Local Farm’s Cheese Named Among Top 20 Cheeses in the World

Thurman-based Nettle Meadow Farm and Artisan Cheese’s Kunik was named among the best cheeses in the biennial “Top 20 Cheeses in the World” contest in Wisconsin.

The contest welcomed 2,978 applicants judged by experts from around the world. Nettle Meadow’s Kunik was named among the top 20, which also included seven Wisconsin cheeses, 11 European and one Californian. The overall winner was Gourmino Le Gruyère AOP from Switzerland.

“We are elated at the recognition our team received with this win,” said Sheila Flanagan, Nettle Meadow owner, and cheesemaker. “We all work so very hard at putting out the best cheese imaginable and this kind of recognition makes all the effort and long days worth it.”

Nettle Meadow’s Kunik was recognized in the 2022ed “Top 20 Cheeses in the World” cheese contest in Wisconsin.

Nettle Meadow has two locations, a farm in Thurman and The Old Hitching Post in Lake Luzerne. The Thurman farm store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily for cheese sales. Farm tours are given at noon Saturday, weather permitting, and visitors are welcome to take self-guided tours all week. The expanded retail store and tasting room/tavern at The Old Hitching Post in Lake Luzerne is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday for brunch.

Nettle Meadow produces semi-aged cheeses and a line of rind hard cheeses washed in beer, hard cider, and/or liquor. The farm offers a variety of soft fresh cheeses including chevre, fromage blanc, a mixed-milk fromage frais and a new fresh cow’s milk cheese.