4th August, 2026
Wookey Hole Cave-Aged Cheddar is celebrating 20 years since the first truckles were placed in the famous Somerset caves and has marked the anniversary by being named Champion Cheddar at the 2026 International Cheese & Dairy Awards.
Made by Ford Farm Cheesemakers, part of AJ and RG Barber, using milk from West Country herds, the traditional clothbound cheddar is matured 200 feet underground at Wookey Hole. The caves’ naturally cool temperature and high humidity help produce its distinctive earthy, nutty flavour and firm texture.
The idea of returning cheddar to the caves 20 years ago came from a collaboration between showman Gerry Cottle and cheesemaker and director Mike Pullin. Together they created the now-iconic name “Wookey Hole Cave-Aged Cheddar”, designed to firmly link the cheese to its dramatic Somerset home and encourage visitors to “come and see where the cheese is really matured”.
“My family always talked about how, years ago on the Mendips, cheese was kept in caves before refrigeration,” explains Mike Pullin, Director, AJ and RG Barber. “Bringing cheddar back into the caves felt like reconnecting with that tradition – and we’ve spent the last 20 years proving just how special that environment is for flavour.”
At the 2026 International Cheese & Dairy Awards, Wookey Hole Cave-Aged Cheddar was awarded Champion Cheddar among over 4,000 entries from across the UK and beyond.
“There are thousands of cheeses on those judging tables, including all the big-name cheddars,” says Pullin. “To come out as Champion Cheddar this year shows just how exceptional the Wookey Hole cave-matured cheese really is.”
Chris Goodchild, General Manager at Wookey Hole said, “Few cheeses can say they’re matured in one of Britain’s most famous caves. For the past 20 years, Wookey Hole has provided the perfect natural home for this remarkable cheddar, helping to create a flavour that is uniquely Somerset.
We’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone and proud that the caves continue to play such an important role in producing an award-winning product produced in Somerset and enjoyed by cheese lovers across the UK and beyond.”
This latest accolade echoes a landmark year in 2011, when the same cheese was the supreme winner across all cheese categories in Britain, helping to propel Wookey Hole Cave-Aged Cheddar into national prominence and onto the shelves of major retailers. Since then, it has continued to earn gold medals and critical acclaim.
Approximately 300 to 400 tonnes of Wookey Hole Cave-Aged Cheddar are produced each year. The cheese is sold as a premium table cheese through major UK retailers including Tesco, M&S, Waitrose and Costco, as well as being stocked by independent delis, farm shops and regional markets. It is also used as a hero ingredient in speciality products such as Wookey Hole Cave-Aged crackers and is exported internationally, with Costco in the USA among its key overseas customers.
Visitors to Wookey Hole can see the award-winning cheddar maturing deep within the caves as part of their visit, offering a rare chance to experience one of Britain's most unusual food production environments firsthand. For those looking to delve even deeper, Wookey Hole's new Wookey Uncovered premium experience culminates with a specially curated cave-aged cheddar and Somerset cider tasting. Visitors can also purchase Wookey Hole Cave-aged Cheddar in the Wookey Hole gift shop.
For more information, head to https://www.wookey.co.uk/cave-aged-cheddar-cheese
Or https://www.fordfarm.com/cave-aged-cheddar/
Did you know you can see the cheese maturing on our live cams?
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