Dutch-style cheeses have dominated at this year’s New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards, scooping the top three titles.
Master Judge Russell Smith said that Dutch-style cheese made in New Zealand is “as good as it gets anywhere in the world.”
The Countdown Champion of Champions Cheese Award was won by a Dutch-style cheese made in the Bay of Islands – Very Old Edam by Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese.
This year 470 specialty cheeses, yoghurts and butters competed.
Thirty one of New Zealand’s most experienced dairy connoisseurs, including top international critics, made up the judging panel. They were led by Smith, one Australasia’s most experienced international cheese judges.
The full list of winners below.
COUNTDOWN CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS CHEESE AWARD
Very Old Edam Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Puhoi Valley Champion Artisan Cheese Award
Mercer Mature Cumin – Mercer Cheese
Milk Test NZ Champion Cheesemaker Award
Miel Meyer – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Food for Chefs Champion Butter Award
Lewis Road Creamery Premium Butter lightly salted – Lewis Road Creamery
Green Valley Dairies Champion Yoghurt Award
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Boysenberry Yoghurt – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
The Langham Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Zany Zeus Crème Fraiche – Zany Zeus
Kiwi Labels Champion Feta Cheese Award
Mainland Special Reserve Traditional Feta – Fonterra Brands NZ
Innovative Packaging Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Grinning Gecko Brie – Grinning Gecko Cheese Company
180 degrees Champion Goat Cheese Award
Aroha Raw Milk Rich Plain – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
NZ Chefs Association Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Monte Cristo – Whitestone Cheese
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Galactic Gold – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Kapiti Awa Blue – Fonterra Brands NZ
Eurofins NZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
Old Gold – Crescent Dairy Goats
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Mercer Mature Gouda – Mercer Cheese
Ministry for Primary Industries Champion New Cheese Award
Tenara – Kaikoura Cheese
Primary ITO Aspiring Cheesemaker Award
Craig Church – Barrys Bay Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award
Sting – Crescent Dairy Goats
Crossroads Wines Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Meyer Smoked Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Tetra Pak Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Mainland Epicure Cheese – Fonterra Brands NZ
Epic Brewing Champion Export Cheese Award
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Mozzarella – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award
Kapiti Kahurangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Mainland Special Reserve Christmas Packaging – Fonterra Brands NZ
Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheese & Cheesemaker
Wensleydale – John Morawski
