Best Raclette Cheeses of Valais AOP in 2026
Par Alain Fontannaz · · À proposBest raclette cheese
Valais AOP
29 gold stars awarded by the Interprofession — full ranking, official scores and tasting advice.
Updated: March 3, 2026 · Interprofessional Association of Raclette du Valais AOP
La Fermette d'Arbaz — Best Cheese Shop 2026
Bernard Sermier receives the best score from the Interprofession Raclette du Valais AOP for cheese production 2025.
★ Score: 19.7 / 20Official results
The verdict of March 3, 2026 in Châteauneuf
The Raclette du Valais AOP trade association awarded its gold stars to the best producers of the 2025 season . 29 cheeses won gold — a ranking of the best raclette cheeses in Valais that rewards the excellence of the Valais terroir.
Bernard Sermier , head of La Fermette d'Arbaz , achieved the highest score in the cheese category with an exceptional 19.7 out of 20. This performance places this Arbaz raclette at the top of Valais cheese production for 2025.
Full list of winners for 2026
Cheese shops — 10 gold stars
To obtain a gold star, cheese dairies must achieve a minimum of 19.2 points out of 20 in the sensory evaluation. This year, ten raclettes have crossed this threshold of excellence.
| Rank | Cheese / Cheese Shop | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | The Arbaz Farmhouse — Bernard Sermier | 19.70 |
| 🥈 2 | Loues Farm — Val d'Illier | 19.50 |
| 🥉 3 | Vétroz Cheese Factory (opening May 2024) | 19.35 |
| 4 | Bagnes 98 — Etsez (Bagnes Valley) | 19.33 |
| 5 | Bagnes 98 — Lourtier (Séry & Chermontane alpine pastures) | 19.24 |
| 6 | Saint Martin | 19.24 |
| 7 | Have | 19.22 |
| 8 | Gomser 57 | 19.20 |
| 9 | Gomez 1 | 19.20 |
| 10 | Simplon | 19.20 |
Full list of winners for 2026
Alpine cheese dairies — 19 gold stars
The top category. Nineteen alpine cheese dairies took home the gold, compared to thirteen the previous year. Fluhalp , located above Leukerbad, came out on top with a remarkable score.
All the gold medal-winning alpine cheeses
The following alpine pastures also earned the gold star with a score of 19.50 or higher:
They also receive the gold star:
historic record
A record number of awards across all categories
Including silver and bronze medals, the trade association has set a historic record for awards this year in Châteauneuf:
(all categories)
(all categories)
"This increase in the number of awards demonstrates that the quality is there, and even better than in previous years."
— Interprofessional Association of Raclette du Valais AOP, March 2026
The label
Raclette du Valais AOP: why this label guarantees excellence
The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) label is not just a logo. It guarantees:
- 🐄 100% Valais milk, produced by cows fed on local fodder
- 🧀 Artisanal cheese production according to strict specifications
- ⏳ A minimum aging period of 3 months (often longer for the best examples)
- ⭐ A sensory assessment rated out of 20 points by experts — this is the same system that produces the ranking above
Advice
Tasting and storage tips
- Damp cloth or waxed paper — never plastic wrap
- Refrigerator between 8 and 12°C, vegetable drawer
- Remove from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before serving.
- 3–4 mm slices for individual devices
- Never overheat: melt, don't burn.
- Fendant du Valais (Chasselas) — unrivaled
- Humagne Blanc or dry Pinot Gris
- Potatoes, pickles, dried meat
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
La Fermette d'Arbaz , made by Bernard Sermier, with a score of 19.7/20 — best score in the cheese category.
29 in total : 10 cheese dairies and 19 alpine cheese dairies — a record compared to previous years.
The Fluhalp alpine pasture, located above Leukerbad, with a score of 19.87/20 .
19.2 points out of 20 for cheese shops — a very high standard.
180 to 200 g for a main meal, 80 to 100 g for an aperitif.
Conclusion
Valais, the undisputed champion of raclette
The 2026 awards confirm the exceptional vitality of the Raclette du Valais AOP sector. With a record number of awards and 29 gold stars presented, Valais producers have never before reached such a level of collective quality.
Whether you choose the champion sacred cow's milk cheese — La Fermette d'Arbaz — or one of the 28 other gold medal winners, you are guaranteed an exceptional raclette.
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Discover the selection →Source: Interprofession Raclette du Valais AOP — Results of the annual sensory evaluation 2025, submitted on March 3, 2026 in Châteauneuf, Valais.
