Grate day for Spanish cheeses

TWO Spanish cheeses narrowly missed out on top spot in the 29th annual World Cheese Championships.

Held in San Sebastian, Cala Blanc from Lacto Industrial Menorquina and Cremositos Del Zujar from Arteserena both scored 67 out of a possible 80 to finish as runners up.

They beat entries from 31 countries from Mexico to Mozambique, but lost to a Norwegian blue cheese called Kraftkar which managed to score 71.

Some 266 experts from 26 countries tasted, smelled and graded the entries in a single day.

They worked in teams of four and each of the 66 teams nominated one exceptional cheese for super gold status.

The gold status cheeses were then reassessed by a team of 16 Super Jury members before the results and world champion were announced.