Best Western European Goat Cheese Types
Chavignol is a small cheese made from raw goat's milk that must weigh at least 60 grams. Its color is white or ivory and it has a dense, moist texture with a thin, moldy rind on the outside. The flavor of Chavignol is full, slightly nutty and 'goaty'.
It can mature for up to three months, and when the rind drastically changes its color and becomes very hard, and the body becomes drier and crumbly, the origin of its name - crottin, meaning horse dung in French, is explained. Chavignol is great when grilled and served hot on a salad or eaten with bread and bacon.
Picodon is a small, round cheese made from goat's milk, with a minimum weight of 60 grams, produced in the Ardéche and Drôme regions in France. Its rind is thin, with yellow or white mold speckled with blue on the exterior.
The maturation period is at least 14 days. On the inside, it is white or yellow, with a fine texture that becomes crumbly if it is matured for a longer period of time. Its flavor is fresh and clean, with a balance of salty and acidic notes, but it gets concentrated and sharp if it is matured longer, when the cheese loses half of its mass by drying out.
THE BEST Picodon Cheeses
This hard cheese is made from raw goat milk taken from Serrana breed. Goat cheese has long played an important role in the economy of the Bragança region, and many of the local families raise animals and produce cheese as their main source of subsistence.
Once the goats are milked, the milk is filtered and heated. The curd is then salted and cured at a low temperature and high humidity. Transmontano cheese is round with a semi-hard crust, and is uniform, smooth, and white. It is a firm cheese with an intense and pleasant aroma and a slight spicy note.
Caprino is a goat’s milk cheese made throughout Italy - the name derives from the Italian word capra, meaning goat. There are two main varieties of caprino: fresco (fresh) and stagionato (aged). A fresh version is aged for two to four days, it has a nice, soft, creamy texture and round or cylindrical shape.
Aged version is left to mature up to 6 months and during that period the cheese develops much saltier, tangier flavor and turns the color from white to yellow, sometimes even reddish. Caprino can be enjoyed on its own, served with fruit, or as an ingredient in first courses or salads.
VARIATIONS OF Caprino
THE BEST Caprino Cheeses
Cabécou is a soft French cheese originating from the Midi-Pyrénées region. It is made from goat’s milk. Before it is wrapped in chestnut leaves and left to mature, the cheese is dipped in plum brandy and sprinkled with black pepper.
After about two weeks, blue mold develops on its thin rind. Cabécou’s texture is creamy and smooth, while its flavor is slightly tangy. It is recommended to pair it with a glass of Chardonnay.
Pair with
Valençay is a soft cheese with an unusual visual appearance, made from goat's milk in the French regions of Cher, Indre, Indre-et-Loire and Loir-et-Cher. It is shaped like a pyramid with its top cut off, and according to a legend, it used to have a full pyramid shape until Napoleon cut the top off with his sword upon his arrival back home from a failed expedition to Egypt.
The cheese is covered with a natural blue-gray mold coated with a mix of salt and charcoal and its body is smooth and dense in texture while the taste is slightly piquant, mild, nutty and lemony. Pair it with dry white or sparkling wines.
Buche de Chevre is a French cheese originating from the Poitou-Charentes region. Made from goat's milk, this soft cheese has a white color, bloomy rind, and a creamy, flaky texture. The flavors are tangy, earthy, and slightly sweet. The cheese is shaped into a log and it must mature for at least 7 days before consumption.
It is recommended to serve Buche de Chevre with crusty baguettes, fruit, or honey. The cheese can also be used in salads and quiches. Pair it with a glass of robust red Bordeaux wine or a glass of crisp white wine from the Loire Valley.
THE BEST Buche de Chevre Cheeses
Selles-sur-Cher is a soft cheese made from full-fat goat's milk, dusted with wood ash to develop a unique rind with strong mineral notes. It is produced in Western Sologne including the Cher region in France. The word 'Selles' refers to the shape of the cheese, that is, a disk.
The texture is that of moist clay and the flavor of the body tastes salty, goaty, nutty, and grass-like. The more mature it is, the more its nutty flavor is pronounced. If the rind is eaten together with the cheese, it produces a more intense, sharper flavor due to the ash remnants and mold.
Murcia is a mountainous region known for high-quality goat milk products such as this soft-ripened goat milk cheese log. Young caña is mild and creamy with refreshing lemony notes. As it ages, the cheese gets a sharp and intense flavor with a note of earthiness. Caña de Cabra is typically enjoyed with local honey, figs, and almonds or pine nuts.
It is recommended to pair it with crisp white wines.
Tomme de chèvre is a traditional cheese hailing from Savoie. The cheese is made from raw goat's milk. Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture is creamy, pliable, and smooth. The aromas are pungent, barnyardy, earthy, and goaty, while the flavor is fruity, sweet, citrusy, and nutty on the finish.
Tomme de chèvre ages for 7 weeks before it's ready for consumption. It's especially good when paired with bread and potatoes, but it can also be melted like a raclette. Regarding wine, pair it with white Savoie wines such as Chignin, Apremont, or Roussette.
THE BEST Tomme de chèvre de Savoie Cheeses

Prolactine France
Tomme de Chèvre Cave Jacobine aux Graines
Concours International de Lyon - Gold 2025
Prolactine France
Tomme de Chèvre Cave Jacobine à l'ail des Ours
Concours International de Lyon - Gold 2025
Best Western European Goat Cheese Producers
Adiano, located in El Robledo, Ciudad Real, Spain, is a notable cheese factory specializing in artisanal Manchego cheese. It distinguishes itself with a commitment to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, being the first and only in Spain to receive an Animal Welfare Certification by AENOR.
The cheese is made from the milk of purebred Manchego sheep, which are raised on the farm’s natural pastures. This ensures high-quality, flavorful cheese celebrated for its exclusivity and sophistication.
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2022, 2021

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2022, 2021
BEST Prolactine France Cheeses
Grupo Ganaderos is a cheese producer based in Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands. The company specializes in producing cheese from goat and sheep milk, utilizing traditional methods combined with modern technology. Their products include a variety of cheeses, such as the Majorero cheese, which is protected under a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status.
The company also focuses on sustainable farming practices.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022, 2018
BEST Grupo Ganaderos Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Casale Roccolo Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2021

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2021
BEST Quesería Artesanal Las RRR Cheeses
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2022, 2019

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
BEST Queso Payoyo Cheeses
The company "Perla" was founded in Nichelino around the mid-20th century. For generations, it specialized in producing, ripening, and refining traditional Italian dairy products, with a focus on maintaining a family-like atmosphere. Perla’s products are rooted in the fertile pastures of Piedmont, where ideal conditions for raising sheep, goats, and cows contribute to high-quality milk.
The company emphasizes that its success lies in its meticulous cheese production process, which follows the highest standards of excellence and a slow, 100% natural maturation process. This dedication to tradition and quality ensures the authenticity of their cheeses.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022
BEST Perla Cheeses
Quesos Pajarete is a cheese producer based in Villamartin, Cadiz, Spain. They specialize in crafting traditional artisanal cheeses using local sheep, goat, and cow milk. Their product line includes a variety of cheeses from semi-cured to cured, infused with flavors such as rosemary or paprika.
Quesos Pajarete has received multiple awards for their cheeses, which are recognized for their quality and distinctive regional flavors.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2021

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2019

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
BEST Quesos Pajarete Cheeses
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024, 2022
BEST Caseificio Storico Amatrice Wines
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
BEST Quesos De Radiquero Cheeses
Best Western European Goat Cheeses
Tomme de Chèvre Cave Rousseau is a semi-hard goat cheese hailing from France, particularly known for its rich flavor and creamy texture. This cheese is characterized by its rustic, natural rind, which is often adorned with a delicate layer of ash.
The interior boasts a pale, creamy color with a slightly crumbly texture that becomes increasingly supple as it ages.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022, 2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
Soft goat cheese, made using lactic coagulation of pasteurised goat's milk, natural rennet and no preservatives or additives. Its blue mould layer on the outside, penicillium roqueforti, and its white interior make it an unmistakable cheese. Its blue layer is edible and forms the basis of its flavours.
It is recommended to cut it with a lyre.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2022
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2023
Pasteurizado Curado De Cabra is a product of the Quesos Luisita brand, produced by Quesería Arquegran Agüimes. The product is known for its rich, robust flavor and its firm, slightly crumbly texture. The cheese is made from pasteurized goat milk, which contributes to its distinct taste and quality.
It is a popular choice among cheese connoisseurs and is often used in various culinary applications, from appetizers to gourmet dishes.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
Formagella Storica is an artisanal cheese made by Casale Roccolo, an organic farm dedicated to traditional and sustainable agricultural practices. The cheese is known for its rich, creamy texture and unique flavor profile, which reflects the high-quality milk sourced from the farm's own herd.
Cheese aged 90 days, rennet coagulation, dry salted with saline solution.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022
Marchesino by Casale Roccolo is an artisanal Italian cheese produced by the organic farm Casale Roccolo, located in Italy. Known for its craftsmanship, Marchesino has gained recognition for its quality and distinct flavor profile. The cheese is semi-hard, with a natural rind that develops during the aging process.
Its flavor is robust, often with nutty and earthy notes, making it a popular choice for cheese lovers.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022
Maxorata Curado Al Pimentón Majorero DOP is a distinguished semi-soft goat's milk cheese from Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain. This cheese is recognized for its unique flavor, which combines the creamy, rich notes of Majorero goat's milk with a smoky, spicy layer of Spanish paprika on the rind.
It is aged for a minimum of four months, enhancing its complexity and taste.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
Rulo de cabra con miel Oh My Cheese is a product made by Lacteas Cobreros. This Spanish cheese is crafted from high-quality goat's milk and is known for its soft, creamy texture and unique flavor profile, which is enhanced by a delicate touch of honey.
The combination of the smooth, slightly tangy cheese with the sweet honey makes it an exquisite choice for cheese platters, salads, or as a standalone snack. Lacteas Cobreros is renowned for their dedication to quality and tradition in cheese-making, ensuring that each piece of Rulo de cabra con miel offers a delectable taste experience.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
Fiocco di Capra by Marenchino is an Italian goat cheese. Known for its soft texture and mild, delicate taste, it is crafted from goat's milk and offers a light, creamy experience. The name "Fiocco di Capra" translates to "Goat Flake," hinting at its light, fluffy consistency.
It is ideal for those who enjoy gourmet goat cheeses.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold
2025

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 Western European Goat Cheeses” list until February 28, 2025, 1,356 ratings were recorded, of which 912 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.