Stonetown Cheese celebrates Royal Agricultural Winter Fair wins, including Grand Champion for Wildwood

Stonetown Artisan Cheese production assistant Nathan Grant, master cheesemaker Ramon Eberle and production assistant Roy Braconnier are all part of team making award-winning cheeses.

By Emily Stewart

Stonetown Artisan Cheese continues to win more prizes in an award-winning year for the business.

Stonetown Cheese won the Grand Champion prize at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for its Wildwood cheese in the firm and hard – surface ripened, natural or brush rind category. The St. Marys based cheese producer also took home the top prize in the semi-soft, interior ripened cheese category for its Farmstead Fontina.

“We are truly honoured to be recognized for these awards at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, especially to receive the Grand Champion for the Wildwood,” said Rachel Dundas, Stonetown Cheese’s office manager.

Earlier in 2025, Stonetown Cheese’s Grand Trunk earned the top prize for washed rind cheese from the American Cheese Society Awards, as well as third place for best-in-show and an honourable mention for the highest-scoring milk cheese. The Grand Trunk, a gruyere-style cheese, also won the Grand Champion prize and top prize for Swiss-style cheese at the SIAL Canada Awards. Wildwood was also honoured as the firm cheese champion and Best Canadian cow’s milk cheese champion by SIAL Canada.

Dundas is proud of the Stonetown Cheese team for earning the awards.

“It reflects the care, passion and dedication put into every batch of cheese we make. It shows that our commitment to quality and consistency truly stands out in the cheese world,” she said. “This all starts from the ingredients, our high-quality milk from the farm. Each award is a reminder of our team’s hard work and love for what we do.”

The accolades also reflect a strong sense of support from Stonetown’s customers.

“We’re so thankful to share what we love doing every day with people who believe in us,” Dundas said.

The award-winning cheeses are also enjoyed by Dundas and her family at home for a variety of purposes.

“Two of our favourite cheeses for snacking are Wildwood and Grand Trunk. Farmstead Fontina also always has a place in our fridge, so creamy and buttery, making it perfect for melting,” she said. “It’s our go-to for Friday night pizza, and when we want to elevate the flavour, we reach for one of our flavoured cheeses made with Fontina as the base.”