This year’s New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards recognise long term favourites as well as newcomers among the 27 trophy recipients.
Supreme Champion awards went to Kāpiti and Mahoe; The Drunken Nanny and Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese.
The trophies were awarded at a Gala Awards Dinner at SkyCity in Hamilton and followed judging of more than 310 cheeses from 35 cheese companies at Wintec in February. Chief Judge Jason Tarrant led a panel of 32 judges to assess the cheeses.
Jason Tarrant said: “Overall, the calibre of the entries was excellent. While there are too many trophy winning cheeses to mention each one, some of the interesting cheeses include: Geraldine Cheese Company’s Aged Deer Gouda, which won Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award; MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker; Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese; Whitestone Cheese Co’s Whitestone Oamaru Blue, which received the New Zealand Food Safety Champion New Cheese Award; and Clevedon Buffalo’s new Buffalo Salted Curd, which was named IFF Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese.”
The New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association organises the annual awards with Board chair Neil Willman saying: “It’s encouraging to see the quality and variety of cheese which was recognised this year. It’s proof of the strength of the New Zealand cheese industry and the quality and innovation of cheesemakers. Furthermore, I’m heartened by the reports that cheese lovers are seeking out locally made cheese, supporting the industry as never before and leading to increasing sales for New Zealand cheese.”
NZ CHAMPIONS OF CHEESE AWARDS 2021 TROPHIES
The NZ Champions of Cheese 2021 Supreme Awards are:
• Countdown Champion of Champion Cheese Award – Commercial; Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
• New World Champion of Champion Cheese Award – Mid-sized; Mahoe Very Old Edam
• Puhoi Valley Cheese Champion of Champions Cheese Award – Boutique; The Drunken Nanny Black Tie Petite
• MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker; Annie Nieuwenhuis & Geoff Nieuwenhuis, Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese
The NZ Champions of Cheese 2021 Category Trophies are:
• ECOLAB Champion Blue Cheese Award; Puhoi Valley Pakiri Beach Blue
• Tetra Pak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese Award; Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
• Wintec Champion Bulk Cheddar Cheese Award; Fonterra NZMP Vintage
• AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award; Mahoe Very Old Edam
• NZSCA Champion European Style Cheese Award; Thorvald Little River Estate Aged Swiss
• dish magazine Champion Sheep Cheese Award; Geraldine Cheese Gouda
• 180 degrees New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award; Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
• Sabato Champion Farmhouse Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese Cumin & Cloves
• Big Chill Distribution Champion Flavour Added Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese Smoked Gouda
• IFF Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award; Clevedon Buffalo Salted Curd
• Cheeselinks Champion Fresh Italian Style Cheese Award; Massimo’s Burrata
• Good George Brewing Champion Goat Cheese Award; The Drunken Nanny Black Tie Petite
• Kiwi Labels Champion Greek/Cypriot Cheese Award; Puhoi Valley Cow’s Milk Feta
• New Zealand Food Safety Champion New Cheese Award; Whitestone Oamaru Blue
• Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award; Geraldine Cheese Aged Deer Gouda
• CHR Hansen Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award; Remutaka Pass Creamery Summit Snow
• Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award; Grinning Gecko Kau Piro
The NZ Champions of Cheese 2021 Special Awards are:
• New World Cheese Lovers’ Choice; Kapiti Kikorangi Blue
• Innovative Packaging Aspiring Cheesemaker; Clara Autet, Grinning Gecko
• Ignite Colleges Chef’s Choice Award; Karikaas Pumahana
• Curds & Whey Champion Homecrafted Cheese & Cheesemaker; St Peters College, SPC Blue
• C’est Cheese Champion Butter; Lewis Road Creamery Garlic & Parsley Butter
• Countdown Champion Yoghurt Award; Clevedon Buffalo Lemon Zest Yoghurt
