Krasnodar Region cheeses recognised among Russia's best

Cheeses produced in the Krasnodar Region won a number of awards at the international Cheese Expo 2026 competition, with results announced in Moscow as part of the Horeca Expo and Coffee Tea Cacao Expo trade fairs. More than 260 samples from 42 producers across 13 regions of Russia, as well as Belarus and the Netherlands, took part in the competition, reports the press office of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Krasnodar Region.

The judging panel, comprising professional cheese sommeliers and industry experts, assessed both artisan and industrial products made from pasteurised milk. Cheeses were classified as industrial if more than 5 tonnes of milk were used in their production each day.

Following the tasting, producers from the Krasnodar Region were awarded several gold medals. Among those recognised were the soft goat's cheeses Crottin and Tour de Chèvre (Syrny Olimp), the hard cheese Sbrinz (Affinazhny Dom Pugachevoy), Goat Camembert (Uzhnaya Syrovarennaya kompania, OOO Ipatov), as well as the range of mature cheeses Tima Tom, Partisano, Partizan Zolotoy, and Daniter (OOO Ekoferma Novonekrasovka).

Silver awards were presented to, among others, Brie and Camembert cheeses produced by Uzhnaya Syrovarennaya kompania (OOO Bonne Minute), as well as a number of products from OOO Ipatov and Ekoferma Novonekrasovka, including matured cheeses made from a blend of milks.

Bronze medals were awarded to Camembert Traditionnel and Reblochon (Uzhnaya Syrovarennaya kompania, OOO Ipatov), as well as Raclette with Truffles (Affinazhny Dom Pugachevoy).

The competition aims to identify the finest examples of cheeses and cheese products from both artisanal and large-scale producers, with the participation of affineurs, specialists in cheese maturation.