Soft, flavourful and made in Aragon: the best cheese in the world is from Huesca

Aragon is a land of traditional and varied cuisine that features artisanal products of the highest quality, such as cheeses from Huesca. From Radiquero cheese, to Flor de Aspe, to the Ribargoza region with its Senz cheese. But among all these, there is one that is the king and is found in the heart of the Pyrenees.

This is Gavarnie , a sheep’s cheese made in the Broto Valley and which has been awarded the best cheese in the world at the prestigious Cincho Cheese Awards. Surrounded by a spectacular natural environment, the Bal de Broto cheese factory has taken advantage of the exceptional conditions of the Aragonese Pyrenees to create a unique product, fusing tradition and craftsmanship to achieve excellence. 

GAVARNIE SHEEP CHEESE, CREATED IN HUESCA

On the banks of the Ara River, in a thousand-year-old valley full of history and cheese-making tradition, the ideal conditions exist for the creation of the best cheese in the world. The Bal de Broto cheese factory is located in the historic Casa de Planduviar, a renovated building that was once a tile factory and a house abandoned for more than twenty years. There, Gavarnie cheese is cured with raw sheep’s milk.

The other cheeses they make are made from raw milk from cows in Sobrabre and are made in an artisanal, 100% sustainable way. They bear the names of Miguel Guillén, José Pardina and José Grillo.

The story behind Bal de Broto cheeses is as captivating as their flavour. The names of their products are those of former prisoners of the medieval Broto prison, whose names still remain on the black walls of the prison. On those same walls there are many more engravings made by the prisoners themselves, dating from different periods.

WHAT IS THE BEST CHEESE IN THE WORLD 2024?

The award-winning cheese is the result of a special collaboration between shepherds from Aragon and the south of France. After being aged for five months by the master cheesemakers at Bal de Broto, this product stands out for its smooth flavour, its elastic texture and a sweetness that makes it irresistible to the palate. What sets it apart is its maturation process in a natural semi-buried cellar, where local yeasts are used that provide an unrivalled character.

The curing process remains faithful to traditional techniques, using wooden slats in a cellar equipped with the latest advances in the sector, allowing them to maintain the balance between innovation and artisanal heritage.

WHAT ARE THE CINCHO CHEESE AWARDS

The Cincho Awards, established in 2000 by the Agrarian Technological Institute of Castilla y León, aim to promote the consumption of quality cheeses and recognize producers, industries and artisans who stand out for their commitment to excellence.

Over time, these awards have established themselves as the most important national competition for Spanish cheeses and one of the most internationally recognised. In the 2024 edition, more than 1,200 samples from 16 countries were received, evaluated by more than 60 expert tasters from 15 nations. The next edition will take place in 2026.

Gavarnie , with its soft sweetness and unrivalled quality, has not only won over the palates of experts at the Cheese Awards, but is now the pride of Aragon and a gem that every cheese lover should try.