The Best Cheeses of 2026: Culture’s Annual List

by Josie Krogh, Madison Trapkin, Alana Pedalino, Mallory Scyphers and Pamela Vachon

From the article:

“Deer Creek Cheese’s Chris Gentine, founder of The Artisan Cheese Exchange, is somewhat of a wizard when it comes to flavored cheese, and this magical wheel is no exception. The Doe, which claimed First in its category at the 2025 ACS, is a flavored cheddar that combines local cow’s milk with freshly ground whole Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans for a stunning marbled finish. This wheel is carefully bandage-wrapped and aged so the vanilla can properly infuse, imparting a savory, semisweet, woodsy finish to the velvety cheddar. This cheese tastes great on its own, but Gentine encourages exploration when it comes to his creations—he recommends adding it to everything from grilled cheese to apple pie. MT”