After judges smelled, crumbled and tasted their way through almost 300 New Zealand cheeses, the medal winners of the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2020 have been announced.
Run by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) for the 17th consecutive year, Australian Master Judge Russell Smith oversaw judgin, working with a panel of 25 specialist judges.
NZSCA chair Neil Willman said the judges made special note of the quality and variety of cheese they assessed this year. He said changes to the way the Sabato Farmhouse Cheese and the Milk Test NZ Champion Cheesemaker were judged led to more premium quality entries. The inaugural ‘Ignite Colleges Chefs’ Choice’ received more than 30 different entries representing a broad variety cheese types.
Particularly impressive this year was the number of cheeses assessed for ‘Big Chill Distribution Flavoured Cheese’ category. Retailers report double digit growth in flavoured cheese sales and kiwi cheesemakers are meeting this growing demand. Twenty six cheeses received medals in this category – with nine receiving gold, eight collecting silver and the final nine receiving bronze. Flavours included distinctively New Zealand combinations like; Barrys Bay Coldsmoked Manuka Havarti, innovations such as Gibbston Valley’s Sheep Cumin and global flavour favourites like; Clevedon Buffalo Garlic and Thyme Marinated Cheese and Meyer Cheese Garlic & Chives.
Italian style cheeses continue their popularity with cheese lovers and cheesemakers alike. The quality in the ‘Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese’ category was recognised with the judges awarding 21 medals – the highest number in the gold and silver medal categories with eight and 10 respectively.
For the first time the judges were looking for three Supreme Champions. These champions and the other ‘NZ Champions of Cheese’ trophy winners will be announced at a four-course gala dinner – featuring a selection of winning cheeses – at SkyCity Hamilton on Wednesday 6th May 2020. NZSCA is expecting 300 guests from throughout the country.
Kiwi cheese lovers are being called on to be part of the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards too. Foodies are asked to nominate their favourite place to buy New Zealand cheese in the 180 degrees Favourite NZ Specialty Cheese Shopping Experience. This award recognises the supermarket, specialty food store, farmers’ market or cheese shop which provides amazing service for those buying New Zealand cheese. Stores which receive the most votes will be assessed by a specialist panel of judges and one will be named ‘180 degrees Favourite NZ Specialty Cheese Shopping Experience’ at the Awards ceremony in May.
NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2020 – Gold Medal Winners
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese, Fonterra Brands (NZ) Limited; Kāpiti Awa Blue, Mercer Cheese; Mercer Fifty Fifty; Mercer Cheese, New Zealand Bush
ECOLAB Blue Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Peninsula Blue; Fonterra Brands (NZ) Limited, Kāpiti Kikorangi; Fonterra Brands (NZ) Limited, Kāpiti Kahurangi; Mahoe Cheese, Mahoe Farmhouse Blue
CHR Hansen Soft White Rind Cheese
Fonterra Brands (NZ) Limited, Kāpiti Kahikatea Camembert; Thorvald, Little River Brie; Grinning Gecko Cheese Company, Grinning Gecko Camembert
Kiwi Labels Greek/Cypriot Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Feta; Fonterra Brands (NZ) Limited, Mainland Crumbly Feta; Waimata Cheese, Waimata Cracked Pepper Haloumi
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Oaxaca; Italian Cheeses Limited, Cow Burrata; Italian Cheeses Limited, Cow Ricotta; Italian Cheeses Limited, Cow Smoked Scamorza; Viavio Cheese, ViaVio Mozzarella; Viavio Cheese, ViaVio Burrata; ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Mascarpone; ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Stracchino
AsureQuality Dutch Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Edam; Mahoe Cheese, Mahoe Farmhouse Cumin Gouda; Mercer Cheese, Mercer Waikato Vintage
Delta Wines European Style Cheese
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products Ltd, Karikaas Maasdam; Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Pakiri Beach Blue
Big Chill Distribution Flavoured Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Smoked Rinded Cheddar; Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Chilli and Lime marinated cheese; Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Garlic and Thyme marinated cheese; Karikaas Natural Dairy Products Ltd, Karikaas Pepper, Meyer Cheese; Meyer Cheese – Fenugreek; Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese – Cracked Pepper’ Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese – Garlic & Chives; Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese – Smoked Gouda; Over the Moon Dairy, Over the Moon Black Truffle Brie
Good George Brewing Goat Cheese
Anabelle Limited, Fromage Frais – goat Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Organic Raw Milk Rich Plain; Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Cumin; Belle Chevre Creamery, Belle Chevre Creamery Chevre; Belle Chevre Creamery, Belle Chevre Creamery Manaia Ma; Belle Chevre Creamery, Belle Chevre Creamery Halloumi; Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese – Goats Milk Gouda; Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese, Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Halloumi
DISH Sheep Cheese
Anabelle Limited, Fromage Frais; Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Craggy Range Sheep Dairy Blue; Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Craggy Range Sheep Dairy Feta; The Gibbston Valley Cheese Company, Gibbston Valley New Balfour; Mercer Cheese, Mercer Pecorino; Over the Moon Dairy, Over the Moon The Black Sheep; Thorvald, Thorvald Curado’ Thorvald, Thorvald Sheep Milk Camembert; Viavio Cheese, ViaVio Pecorino
Innovative Packaging Butter
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Kauri NZMP Salted Butter Spreadable; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Morrinsville NZMP Salted Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Mainland Reduced Salt Buttersoft; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Mainland Semi-Soft Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Edgecumbe NZMP Unsalted Pastry Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Te Rapa NZMP Unsalted Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Kauri NZMP Unsalted Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Te Awamutu NZMP Unsalted Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Clandeboye NZMP Unsalted Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Clandeboye NZMP Unsalted Lactic Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Whareroa NZMP Unsalted Lactic Butter
NZSCA Yoghurt
Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Natural Yoghurt; Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Vanilla Bean Yoghurt; Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Passionfruit Yoghurt; Clevedon Buffalo Ltd, Clevedon Buffalo Lemon Zest Yoghurt.
