August 20, 2008 Vermont cheese makers receive top honors Play video

(Anya Huneke, NECN: Leicester, VT) - Vermont is well-known for its cheese. There are dozens of cheese-makers in the state, with more constantly coming on board. But in case you were wondering whether cheese produced in the green mountains is any good- check out next month's issue of "Wine Spectator" magazine, where the small state gives the rest of the world a run for its money.

Greg Bernhardt takes great care with every wheel of cheese he makes at Blue Ledge farm in Leiscester, Vermont.

"I don't mind taking care of them... they are living things. I look at all of them and think- each is going to go on a journey." That journey has led one of his specialty cheeses - Lake's Edge - into the pages of Wine Spectator magazine.

The cover story of the September issue features the magazine's picks for the world's top 100 cheeses-- 10 of which are from Vermont... by cheese makers including Jasper Hill, Cabot, Shelburne Farms, Grafton Village, Thistle hill, and consider Bardwell Farms.

20 years ago .. artisan cheese-makers were few and far between. Now there are almost 40 in Vermont... making up nearly a tenth of the more than 400 cheese-makers nationwide.