Annapolis Fine Cheese takes third place in national competition

WOLFVILLE, N.S. — One of Wolfville’s latest cheesemakers made waves during the 2023 Royal Agricultural Fair in Toronto, claiming a third-place finish  only five months after opening the business.

Annapolis Fine Cheese, which began producing cheeses in July, had made only three batches of its ‘Terroir’ soft cheese when the company decided to submit their product to the 2023 National Cheese and Butter Competition.

“We really just wanted insights from the expert judging panel,” said head cheesemaker Catherine Keeler. “We never expected to be a competitor among the most well-established cheesemakers in Canada.”

Made with local sea salt and cow’s milk, ‘Terroir’ bested 14 of the 17 total entries in the fresh cheese category, claiming third place.

“Nova Scotia dairy farmers produce fantastic milk for cheesemaking and our success at the Royal in Toronto demonstrates how much potential artisanal cheesemaking has in Nova Scotia,” said co-owner Sean Myles.

Co-founded by Gina Haverstock and Myles in 2023, the company specializes in fine cheeses of French and Swiss traditions, with more than 20 retailers carrying their products province-wide.