Celebrating craftsmanship, character, and three award‑winning cheeses from the heart of Devon
Every year, the Great Taste Awards set the benchmark for excellence in food and drink. With over 15,038 entries from 3,917 companies across 116 countries, only 2% of products achieve the coveted 3‑Star rating — the highest honour for flavour, quality, and craft. In 2026, Sharpham Dairy once again stood proudly among the winners, showcasing the skill, care, and quiet confidence that define this dairy.
This year’s results brought home three well‑deserved accolades:
✨ ✨✨ Sharpham Savour – 3 Stars
✨ ✨✨ Sharpham Ticklemore – 3 Stars
✨ Sharpham Rustic – 1 Star
Each cheese impressed judges with its individuality, texture, and balance — and together they paint a portrait of a dairy deeply committed to thoughtful, small‑batch cheesemaking.
Sharpham Savour Mixed Milk Cheese– 3 Stars Great Taste
A semi‑firm, rind‑washed cheese with gentle complexity and a buttery, lactic brightness
Sharpham Savour captivated judges with its subtlety and sophistication. Described as “a soft and mild cheese with gentle dairy character… very smooth and clean, almost the texture of a cream cheese,” Savour’s appeal lies in its restraint. It’s a cheese that doesn’t shout — it glows.
What the judges loved
- Bright lactic tang with slight fruity undertones
- Soft chew that melts away, offering a delicate, buttery finish
- White rind-washed exterior bringing a whisper of brassica and earthiness
- Bouncy, pale paste that feels both fresh and refined
One judge called it “simultaneously mild and complex,” praising its balance of acidity, creaminess, and gentle grassy notes. Another admired its craftsmanship, noting its “appealing pattern, rich buttery paste, and long-lasting finish.”
Sharpham Savour is a cheese that rewards attention — a quiet triumph of technique and terroir.
Sharpham Ticklemore Goats Cheese – 3 Stars Great Taste
A visually striking goat’s cheese with citrus brightness, clean flavour, and exceptional length
Only 306 products earned 3 Stars this year, placing Sharpham’s Ticklemore Goat’s cheese and Sharpham Savour among the very best of the best. Judges were unanimous in their praise, celebrating its distinctive shape, immaculate paste, and vibrant flavour profile.
What the judges loved
- Dramatic, crenelated appearance — a true centrepiece
- Smooth white paste with a gentle goat’s milk aroma
- Creamy yet lightly crumbly texture, releasing complex flavours
- Fresh citrus notes and “great intensity for a young cheese”
- Clean, lactic character with perfectly balanced salt
One judge summed it up beautifully: “A stunning looking cheese… vibrant, fresh and full of citrus notes, with great length.”
Ticklemore Goat is everything a modern goat’s cheese should be — bright, elegant, and full of personality.
Sharpham Rustic – 1 Star
A gentle, lactic, cheese with soft texture and quiet charm
Sharpham Rustic earned a 1‑Star award — placing it among the 28.5% of entries recognised as “simply delicious.” Judges admired its unique shape, buttery aroma, and thoughtful execution.
What the judges noticed
- Soft, melting, almost fudgy texture
- Bright, clean lactic aroma
- Mild flavour that builds in complexity
- Touch of lemony acidity cutting through creaminess
- Earthy rind that adds balance without overpowering
While some judges wished for more fruitiness or impact, many praised its craftsmanship: “This tastes like a cheese that somebody has taken great care over.”
Rustic remains a beloved Sharpham classic — gentle, approachable, and unmistakably handmade.
A Year of Recognition for Devon Cheesemaking
With thousands of entries and only 41.1% earning any star at all, Sharpham Dairy’s trio of awards is a testament to the team’s dedication to slow, careful cheesemaking rooted in place. From the lush pastures on Dartmoor to the hands that turn, wash, and mature each wheel, these cheeses carry the story of Sharpham in every bite.
2026 Great Taste Award Snapshot
- Total Entries: 15,038
- Total Winners: 6,188
- 1‑Star: 4,286
- 2‑Star: 1,596
- 3‑Star: 306
Sharpham Dairy’s results place them firmly among the UK’s most respected artisan cheesemakers — and offer a delicious reminder of what thoughtful craft can achieve.
Celebrate the Winners
Whether you’re building a cheese board, planning a dinner party, or simply treating yourself, these award‑winning cheeses deserve a place at the table.
- Sharpham Savour brings gentle complexity.
- Ticklemore Goat delivers bright, citrus‑led brilliance.
- Sharpham Rustic offers soft, lactic comfort.
Together, they showcase the very best of Devon’s artisan food culture — and the quiet magic of Sharpham Dairy.