For cheese lovers it would be a day in paradise, but it was serious work for the 28 judges assessing more than 2000 kg of cheese for the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards at AUT School of Hospitality. The judging panel of cheesemakers, chefs and food experts, including FMCG Business Head of Content Tamara Rubanowski, operated under the guidance of Australian Master Judge Russell Smith. Smith was supported by Ross McCullum, Founder of Kapiti Cheese and a Life Member of the NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA).
The NZ Champions of Cheese Awards is organised by the NZSCA, which has run the awards since 2003. This is the 16th year of the awards which celebrate New Zealand cheese, recognise excellence and educate consumers.
The following medals were awarded in the 2018 NZ Champions of Cheese Awards:
GOLD MEDALS
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Pepperazzi
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Aged Cumin Gouda
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Edam
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Gouda
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co, Clevedon Valley Buffalo Cherry Mozzarella
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co, Clevedon Valley Buffalo Marinated Cheese with Thyme & Roast Garlic
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co, Clevedon Valley Buffalo Marinated Cheese with Garlic and Thyme
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co, Clevedon Valley Buffalo Ricotta
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Kikorangi
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Aorangi Traditional Brie
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Pakari Aged Cheddar
Fonterra, Fonterra Lichfield NZMP Strong Cheddar
Fonterra, Fonterra Lichfield Kapiti Tuteremoana
Fonterra, Fonterra Hautapu NZMP Gouda
Hohepa Hawkes Bay, Hohepa Vintage
Il Casaro, Il Casaro Smoked Scamorza
Karikaas, Karikaas Gouda
Karikaas, Karikaas Vintage Gouda
Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese, Mahoe Edam
Mercer Cheese, Mercer Pecorino
Mercer Cheese, Mercer Extra Mature Gouda
Mercer Cheese, Mercer Mature Cumin Cheese
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cracked Pepper
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Amsterdammer
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Maasdam
Open Country Dairy, Open Country Dairy Cheddar Mature
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Traditional Brie
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Farmhouse Brie
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Cow’s Milk Feta
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Matured Kawau Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Waxed Matakana Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Washed Rind
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Creamy Havarti
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Halloumi
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Goat Parmesan
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Cumin Gouda
The Drunken Nanny, The Drunken Nanny Savvy Washed Rind
Thorvald, Thorvald Sheep Milk Curado
Thorvald, Thorvald Sheep Milk Camembert
Waimata Cheese Company, Waimata Chilli Haloumi
SILVER MEDALS
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Fenugreek
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Cumin
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Canterbury Red
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Gruyere
Cartwheel Creamery, Cartwheel Creamery Opiki Ma
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co, Clevedon Valley Buffalo Marinated Cheese with Chilli and Lime
Fonterra, Kapiti Awa Blue
Fonterra, Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Fonterra, Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Fonterra, Kapiti Kikorangi
Fonterra, Kapiti Port Wine Cheddar
Fonterra, Kapiti Smoked Havarti
Fonterra, Mainland Special Reserve Double Cream Camembert
Fonterra, Kapiti Kahikatea Camembert
Fonterra, Fonterra Lichfield NZMP Mild Cheddar
Fonterra, Fonterra Lichfield Mainland Vintage
Fonterra, Fonterra Lichfield NZMP Romano
Fonterra, Fonterra Lichfield NZMP Cheddar
Grinning Gecko Cheese Co, Grinning Gecko Halloumi
Hohepa Hawkes Bay, Hohepa Tasty
Kaimahi Dairy Ltd, Queso de Mano
Karikaas, Karikaas Vintage Cumin
Karikaas, Karikaas Leyden/Cumin Gouda
Karikaas, Karikaas Vintage Maasdam
Karikaas, Karikaas Totokau
Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese, Mahoe Cumin in Gouda
Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese, Mahoe Very Old Edam
Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese, Mahoe Gouda
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Massimo’s Smoked Scamorza
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cumin Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Garlic & Chives
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Tasty Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Smoked Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Goats Milk Gouda
Mount Eliza Cheese, Mount Eliza Blue Monkey
Mount Eliza Cheese, Mount Eliza Little Blue
Open Country Dairy, Open Country Dairy Cheddar Table
Over the Moon Dairy, Over the Moon Apollo by Neil Willman
Over the Moon Dairy, Over the Moon Goat Feta
Over the Moon Dairy, Over the Moon Southern Cross by Neil Willman
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Camembert
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Camembert
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Crème Fraiche
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Bouton Dor Crème Fraiche
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Goat Feta
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Basil Pesto Feta
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Mascarpone
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Kawau Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Double Cream Brie
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Ornelle Double Cream Brie
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Farmhouse Brie
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Lincoln Hills Gouda
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Te Mu Kau
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Sheep Feta
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Lincoln Hills Gouda
The Drunken Nanny, The Drunken Nanny Black Tie
The Drunken Nanny, The Drunken Nanny Wrinkly Nanny
Thorvald, Thorvald Sheep Milk White Vein
Thorvald, Thorvald Greek Style Sheep Milk Feta
Waimata Cheese Company, Waimata Traditional Camembert
Waimata Cheese Company, Waimata Feta in Brine
Waimata Cheese Company, Waimata Traditional Blue
Wairiri Buffalo, Wairiri Buffalo Cacio Cavallo
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Creamy Feta
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Classic Feta
Zany Zeus Ltd, Zany Zeus Halloumi
BRONZE MEDALS
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Plain Rich
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Jubilee
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Rinded Cheddar
‘Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Onawe
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Peppered Havarti
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Havarti
Barry’s Bay Traditional Cheese, Barry’s Bay Aged Gouda
Cartwheel Creamery, Cartwheel Creamery Epitome with Cumin
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co, Clevedon Valley Buffalo Marinated Cheese with Chilli and Lime
Cranky Goat, Cranky Goat Soft Goats Cheese
Cranky Goat, Cranky Goat Reginald
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Kikorangi
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Baby Kikorangi
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Pakari Smoked Cheddar
Fonterra Brands, Kapiti Kanuka Waxed Havarti
Fonterra Brands, Mainland Special Reserve Double Cream Brie
Fonterra, Fonterra Hautapu Mainland Tasty
Fonterra, Fonterra Edendale Mainland Tasty
Fonterra, Fonterra Lichfield NZMP Taupo
Grinning Gecko Cheese Co, Grinning Gecko Camembert
Hohepa Hawkes Bay, Hohepa Fenugreek
Hohepa Hawkes Bay, Hohepa Biodynamic Blue
Karikaas, Karikaas Maasdam
Karikaas, Karikaas Pumahana
Karikaas , Karikaas Koputaputa
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Massimo’s Mozzarella
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Massimo’s Ricotta
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Massimo’s Provolone Piccante
Mercer Cheese, Mercer Nettle Cheese
Mercer Cheese, Mercer Fifty Fifty
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Fenugreek
Mount Eliza Cheese, Mount Eliza Red Leicester
Over the Moon Dairy, Over the Moon Volcano
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Ornelle Brie
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Cow’s Milk Feta
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Bouton Dor Cow’s Milk Feta
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Bouton Dor Mascarpone
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Matakana Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Distinction Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Double Cream Camembert
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Triple Cream Brie
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Kaipara Washed Rind
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Chilli Gouda
Talbot Forest Cheese, Talbot Forest Cheese Parmesan
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Gouda
The Drunken Nanny, The Drunken Nanny Fresh Lush
The Drunken Nanny, The Drunken Nanny Frisky Feta
The Drunken Nanny, The Drunken Nanny Lemony Lush
Thorvald, Thorvald Sheep Milk Blue Vein
Viavio, Viavio Caciocavallo
Wairiri Buffalo, Wairiri Buffalo Stracciatella
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Zingy Chilli Feta
Look out for the Trophy results
These medals are listed without category to ensure the integrity of the Trophy results, which will be announced at a Gala Cocktail Party on Thursday 15 March 2018.
NZSCA Chair Miel Meyer says: “As always our judging panel is exceptional, in part due to the growing reputation for these awards and local cheese. The NZ Champions of Cheese Awards are an incredible opportunity to showcase New Zealand cheese.”
“We’re also pleased to have introduced a new revitalized awards logo. From March, cheese lovers’ can look out for NZ Champion of Cheese stickers on award-winning cheeses. This is a guarantee of quality as judged by our experts.”
All cheese is judged blind, which means judges receive and taste cheese without any branding to prevent bias. The event also involves three judging auditors.
