Winners at Champions of Cheese awards in New Zealand 2015

By MiNDFOOD

Winners at Champions of Cheese awards in New Zealand 2015
New Zealand has revealed the best cheese makers in the country.

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

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