28 Apr, 2024 @ 10:45
5 mins read

Revealed: These are the 60 best cheeses in Spain for 2024, according to a panel of experts – so how many have YOU tried?

Manchego, one of Spain? most well-known cheeses.

WITH Spain’s rich, ancient culinary traditions and deeply agricultural society, it’s no surprise that cheese remains one of its greatest exports.

Across the country, each region possesses its own emblematic recipe. From the stinky, gooey Cabrales of Asturias to the fresh and light Burgos cheese, each represents a timeless connection to the people, the land, and culture. 

But with such diversity, picking a starting place for ranking the best of the best might feel like a daunting task.

Fortunately, every year, the culinary experts at Salon Gourmets stage a “Best Cheese in Spain” competition at its International Fine Food and Beverages Fair. 

At this year’s fair — held in Madrid’s IFEMA events center from April 22 to 25 — experts tasted dozens of gourmet cheeses from around the country and ranked their top choices, organised into distinct categories. 

Below are the winners of each of the 20 categories, from goat to sheep and cow: 

Manchego, one of most well-known cheeses from Spain.

Cow Cheese, Young 

Name: Barral DOP Queixo Tetilla

Maker: Queixeria Barral

Location: Arzua, A Coruña, Galicia 

Name: Dajosefa 

Maker: Fermentos Galegos 

Location: Chantada, Lugo, Galicia 

Name: Anzuxao DOP Queixo Tetilla 

Maker: Lácteos Anzuxao 

Location: Lalín, Pontevedra, Galicia 

Cow Cheese, Cured

Name: Don Nicolás

Maker: Finca de Uga

Location: Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote, Canary Islands 

Name: Señorío de Cameros Añejo 

Maker: Lácteos Martínez 

Location: Haro, La Rioja

Name: Mourelo 

Maker: Quintián 

Location: O Páramo, Lugo, Galicia

Raw Goat’s Milk Cheese, Young

Name: Musgo Lavado

Maker: Elvira García

Location: El Barraco, Avila, Castilla y Leon

Name: Musgo de Capra 

Maker: Elvira García 

Location: El Barraco, Ávila, Castilla y Leon 

Name: Gorullo 

Maker: Quesos Edén 

Location: Marjaliza, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha 

Pasteurised Goat’s Milk Cheese, Young

Name: Tío Resti al Romero

Maker: Especialidades Lácteas – Grupo TGT

Location: Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia

Name: Tronco Rebollín 

Maker: Agrovaldés Cooperativa 

Location: La Espina, Asturias

Name: Farcell de Cabra 

Maker: Formatgeria Cal Music 

Location: El Mujal, Barcelona, Catalunya

Raw Goat’s Milk Cheese, Cured

Name: Carmeli

Maker: Quesos Edén

Location: Marjaliza, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha 

Name: El Zénit 

Maker: La Zarcillera 

Location: Zarcilla de Ramos, Murcia

Name: Flor del Torcal 

Maker: Campyserr 

Location: Antequera,  Málaga, Andalucia

Pasteurised Goat’s Milk Cheese, Cured 

Name: Granja El Moro Curado

Maker: Lázaro Alfaro

Location: Figarol, Navarra 

Name: Payoyo Cabra Curado 

Maker: Queso Payoyo 

Location: Villaluenga del Rosario, Cádiz, Andalucia 

Name: Corcuera Cabra Curado Pimentón (Paprika) 

Maker: Quesos Corcuera

Location: La Puebla de Montalbán, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha 

Mixed, Semi-cured 

Name:  Pajarete Semicurado de Cabra y Oveja (Goat and Sheep)

Maker: Quesos Pajarete

Location: Villamartin, Cadiz, Andalucia 

Name: El Bosqueño Mezcla Semicurado 

Maker: Quesos El Bosqueño 

Location: El Bosque, Cádiz, Andalucia

Name: Selectum Semicurado Pimentón

Maker: Grupo Ganaderos de Fuerteventura

Location: Puerto Del Rosario, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Mixed, Cured

Name: Payoyo Mezcla Curado en Romero 

Maker: Queso Payoyo 

Location: Villaluenga del Rosario, Cádiz, Andalucia 

Name: Entrepinares Reserva 

Maker: Grupo Entrepinares 

Location: Valladolid, Castilla y Leon 

Name: Valle de San Juan Ibérico Añejo 

Maker: Valle de San Juan

Location: Palencia, Castilla y Leon

Soft, Moldy Rind

Name: Pi Corteza Enmohecida 

Maker: Quesos de Hualdo 

Location: El Carpio de Tajo, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha

Name: Cervellán 

Maker: Milagros Lombera Gutiérrez 

Location: Ampuero, Cantabria

Name: Briqueta 

Maker: Cabraline

Location: Antequera, Málaga, Andalucia

Soft, Washed Rind

Name: Tou del Mujal Eco 

Maker: Formatgeria Cal Music 

Location: El Mujal, Barcelona, Catalunya 

Name: Torta de Barros Mini Oveja 

Maker: Quesería Tierra de Barros 

Location:  Villafranca de Los Barros, Badajoz, Extremadura

Name: Rufino Cabreá 

Maker: Hermanos Cuecas Morujo 

Location: Oliva de La Frontera, Badajoz, Extremadura 

Soft, Vegetable Coagulant 

Name:  Cremositos del Zujar 

Maker: Arteserena 

Location: Campanario, Badajoz, Extremadura  

Name:  Gran Tajo Selección DOP Torta del Casar 

Maker: Iberqués Extremadura 

Location: Casar de Cáceres,  Cáceres, Extremadura 

Name: Dehesa Real de Untar Tradicional 

Maker: Cooperativa Agrícola Ganadera de Castuera 

Location: Castuera, Badajoz, Extremadura 

Raw Sheep’s Cheese, Semicured 

Name: Villarejo Semicurado DOP Queso Manchego Artesano 

Maker: Quesos Artesanos Villarejo 

Location: Villarejo de Fuentes, Cuenca

Name: Villajos Semicurado DOP Queso Manchego Artesano 

Maker: Agrovillaserra 

Location: Porzuna, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha 

Name: Villarejo Semicurado Al Resoli 

Maker: Quesos Artesanos Villarejo 

Location: Villarejo de Fuentes, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha 

Pasteurised Sheep’s Cheese, Semicured 

Name: La Antigua Quesería Tierno

Maker: Juan David García Fernández

Location: Mora, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha 

Name: Consorcio Semicurado 

Maker: Consorcio de Promoción del Ovino Cooperativa 

Location: Villalpando, Zamora, Castilla y Leon

Name: Cabesota Provenzal 

Maker: Quesos La Cabesota 

Location: Bolaños de Calatrava, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha

Raw Sheep’s Cheese, Cured

Name: 5Q’S Queso de Oveja curado en Barrica de Sherry 

Maker: Alimentias 

Location: El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Andalucia 

Name: Pie de Monte Envejecido en Manteca Ibérica 

Maker: Quesos Encinasola

Location: Porzuna, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha 

Name: Moraleda Curado 

Maker: Quesos Moraleda 

Location: Dos Barrios, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha 

Pasteurised Sheep’s Cheese, Cured 

Name: Pajarete Emborrado de Oveja

Maker: Lopicomo 

Location: Villamartín, Cádiz, Andalucia

Name: Sierra de Albarracín Etiqueta Verde al Romero 

Maker: Queso Artesano de Teruel 

Location: Albarracín, Teruel, Aragon

Name: El Bosqueño Curado Emborrado en Salvado de Trigo 

Maker: Quesos El Bosqueño 

Location:  El Bosque, Cádiz, Andalucia

Sheep’s Cheese, Aged

Name: Pago Los Vivales Etiqueta Burdeos 

Maker: Baltasar Moralejo e Hijos 

Location: Coreses, Zamora, Castile y Leon 

Name: Finca La Cuadra Añejo DOP Queso Manchego Artesano 

Maker:  Agroalimentaria Finca La Cuadra 

Location: La Herrera, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha

Name: Villarejo Añejo Curado en Miel y Orégano 

Maker:  Quesos Artesanos Villarejo 

Location: Villarejo de Fuentes, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha

Refined Lactic Acid Coagulation 

Name: Moluengo 

Maker: Quesos La Rueda del Cabriel 

Location: Villamalea, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha 

Name: Valleclaro 

Maker: Lácteos Romero Peláez

Location: Guarromán, Jaén, Andalucia 

Name: Lucero 

Maker: Quesos La Rueda del Cabriel 

Location:  Villamalea, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha 

Blue Cheese, Internal Mold 

Name: Savel

Maker: Airas Moniz 

Location: Chantada, Lugo, Galicia

Name: Rey Silo Azul Mamá Marisa 

Maker: Ernesto Madera López 

Location: Pravia, Asturias

Name: Blau de Jutglar 

Maker: Reixagó 

Location: Olost, Barcelona, Catalunya

Smoked 

Name: Fontelas DOP San Simón da Costa 

Maker: Javier Piñeiro López 

Location: Vilalba, Lugo, Galicia 

Name: Don Crisanto DOP San Simón da Costa 

Maker: Crisanto 

Location: Vilalba, Lugo, Galicia 

Name: Queso de Cabra Tierno Ahumado

Maker: Quesería El Faro

Location: Teguise, Lanzarote, Canary Island

With Condiments 

Name: Corazón de Pistacho 

Maker: Quesos Santa María del Cerro 

Location: Villanueva de La Concepción, Málaga, Andalucia 

Name:  Caramelo con ajedrea y pimienta rosa (caramel, savory, pink pepper)

Maker: Quesos La Rueda del Cabriel 

Location: Villamalea, Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha 

Name: Campo Rus con Azafrán Manchego (Saffron)

Maker: Quesera Campo Rus

Location: Santa María del Campo Rus, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha 

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