Emma Mykytyn Spanish Wagyu Beef Ham Named Great Taste 2026 Supreme Champion
A cured Wagyu beef ham produced in the mountains of northern Spain has been crowned the Great Taste 2026 Supreme Champion.
The award went to Entrepeñas for its Wagyu Beef Ham, made in Geras de Gordón in the province of León. The marbled, air-cured beef is produced in a similar style to Jamón Ibérico and impressed judges with its tenderness, aroma and rich beef flavour.
The winner was revealed following a live judging session at the Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony, held at Battersea Arts Centre in London on 15th September 2026.
Wagyu Beef Ham wins Great Taste’s top award
Entrepeñas’ Wagyu Beef Ham had already won the Golden Fork from Spain before progressing to the final judging session for the Supreme Champion title.
A seven-person panel tasted the finalists during the ceremony. The judging team included chefs José Pizarro, Ixta Belfrage, Regula Ysewijn MBE, Dhruv Baker and Jesse Jenkins, alongside cookbook author Marie Mitchell and Ocado’s head of buying, Nicola Waller.
The judges highlighted the ham’s ruby colour, juiciness and notably tender texture. They also praised its subtle smokiness and the way its clean beef flavour became richer and more intense as it was eaten.
Natalia Ordonóñez Gutierrez, the third generation of her family to work in the business, accepted the award on behalf of Embutidos Entrepeñas. She described the win as an overwhelming moment for the small family producer based in the Spanish mountains.
Scottish producer wins a Golden Fork
Scotland’s Golden Fork was awarded to Sour Power Vinegars for its Sicilian Blood Orange & Warm Spices Alcohol Free Aperitif.
The Scottish-made drink combines Sicilian blood orange with warming spices to offer an alcohol-free alternative to a traditional aperitif.
It was selected from a strong Scottish shortlist which also included:
Slow Sauce – Oat Shoyu
Yester Farm Dairies – Luxury Soft Cheese
Sour Power Vinegars – Sicilian Blood Orange & Warm Spices Alcohol Free Aperitif
The win places Sour Power Vinegars among the leading food and drink producers recognised at the Great Taste Awards in 2026.
More than 15,000 products judged
The Great Taste Awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Food and use a blind-tasting system. Products are assessed on their flavour, aroma, appearance, texture and overall quality without the judges seeing the producer’s branding or packaging.
More than 15,000 food and drink products were entered in 2026. Around 800 experts judged the entries over 105 days at four locations: London, Gillingham in Dorset, northern Italy and Ireland.
Only 306 products received the maximum three-star rating. These represented around two per cent of all entries and formed the pool from which the Golden Fork finalists were selected.
According to the Guild of Fine Food, approximately 60 per cent of products entered did not receive a Great Taste star.
Double win for Primrose Creamery
Primrose Creamery enjoyed an especially successful night, leaving the ceremony with two awards.
The English cheesemaker’s Eggleston won the Golden Fork from England, while its Lindley cheese received the Golden Fork for Outstanding Bursary Winner.
Primrose Creamery is led by 33-year-old cheesemaker Jake Goldstein. Its double success made it one of the standout producers at the 29th Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony.
People’s Choice award goes to Italian honey
Guests attending the event were also invited to vote for their favourite product.
The People’s Choice Golden Fork went to Miele di Barena from Italian producer Apicoltura Marangon. The same product also received the Golden Fork from Italy.
Miele di Barena is a distinctive honey associated with the salt marshes of the Venetian lagoon, where bees collect nectar from plants growing in the marshland.
Elsewhere, Payst by Farang received the Golden Fork from the Rest of the World for its Hung Lay Curry Paste, while a Stone Kiln Cold Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillet from Finland’s Kuopion Perinnetuote won the Rest of Europe category.
Organic Cashel Blue receives Heritage Award
Organic Cashel Blue from Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers received the Nigel Barden Heritage Award.
The cheese is made by Sergio and Sarah Furno at Cashel Farmhouse in County Tipperary, Ireland. Nigel Barden selected the winning product and was himself honoured with the Guild of Fine Food Contribution to Food & Drink Award for 2026.
Great Taste Golden Fork winners 2026
The complete list of Great Taste Golden Fork winners is:
Supreme Champion: Wagyu Beef Ham from Entrepeñas
Golden Fork from England: Eggleston from Primrose Creamery
Golden Fork from Scotland: Sicilian Blood Orange & Warm Spices Alcohol Free Aperitif from Sour Power Vinegars
Golden Fork from Wales: Passion Fruit Sorbet from Fire and Ice
Golden Fork from Northern Ireland: Buttermilk Dry Cure Bacon Rack from Hannan Meats
Golden Fork from Ireland: 25% Sour Cream from Green Pastures Donegal
Golden Fork from Spain: Wagyu Beef Ham from Entrepeñas
Golden Fork from Greece: Blossom Honey with Thyme and Oregano from Honey from Paleros
Golden Fork from Italy: Miele di Barena from Apicoltura Marangon
Golden Fork from the Rest of Europe: Stone Kiln Cold Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillet from Kuopion Perinnetuote
Golden Fork from the Rest of the World: Hung Lay Curry Paste from Payst
Outstanding Bursary Winner: Lindley from Primrose Creamery
Golden Fork for Sustainability: Kadode Kampot Pepper
Golden Fork for Better Business: Anchoas Hazas
Nigel Barden Heritage Award: Organic Cashel Blue from Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers
Guild of Fine Food Contribution to Food & Drink: Nigel Barden
People’s Choice Golden Fork: Miele di Barena from Apicoltura Marangon
What is a Great Taste Golden Fork?
Great Taste awards are divided into one-, two- and three-star ratings. Receiving three stars is the scheme’s highest standard, but the Golden Forks take the competition a stage further.
Golden Fork winners are selected from the year’s top-rated products, with regional awards covering the UK, Ireland and several international markets. Specialist prizes also recognise sustainability, responsible business practices, heritage products and producers supported through the Great Taste bursary.
The Supreme Champion is chosen from the Golden Fork winners and is considered the overall best product entered into Great Taste that year.
For 2026, that honour belongs to Entrepeñas’ cured Wagyu Beef Ham a distinctive Spanish product that stood out from more than 15,000 entries.
