Almost 200 locally made cheeses are entitled to wear gold, silver and bronze medals to affirm their quality, following the judging of the New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards 2025.
Medals were bestowed upon 199 of the country’s finest cheeses after evaluation of over 240 locally produced cheeses. The medal count consists of 65 gold medals, 83 silver medals and 51 bronze medals.
Assessment was conducted at Hamilton’s WINTEC in early March with Master Judge Jason Tarrant guiding 30 judges, supported by 20 stewards. Tarrant said; “it was pleasing to see a nearly 10% increase in total entries over the previous year. With a significant 50% lift in the number of flavoured cheeses entered for assessment and double the number in the blue cheese, export cheese and Greek or Danish-style cheese categories.”
The judges were thrilled by “outstanding blue cheese, adventurous flavour added entries that complemented the cheese while offering a real point of difference for consumers. All of which was in sharp contrast to the delicate and decadent fresh Italian-style cheeses that melted in the mouth and also captured the attention of judges.”
For example, gold medals were awarded to Anabelle Exquisite Dairy Bouchees Black Garlic and Truffle in the Fresh Italian-Style Cheese category, and to Jones Family Farm Peppered Havarti in the Aged Flavour Added Cheese category. Whitestone received gold for their Highland Blue Cheese and Massimo’s also scored a gold medal for their Burrata.
Kiwi cheese lovers will find these and other NZ Champions of Cheese Awards medal winners at their local supermarket and specialty retailer. They’ll know medal-winning cheeses because they will wear NZ Champions of Cheese gold, silver and bronze medals – it’s a guarantee the cheese is made in NZ and it’s been assessed by experts who affirm it’s of the highest quality. Buying NZ cheese helps maintain jobs and income for Aotearoa businesses.
NZSCA Chair, Simon Lamb thanked the Awards sponsors and all the volunteer judges and stewards whose expertise made the awards possible. Owned and managed by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association, the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards are in their 22nd year of recognising Aotearoa’s finest cheeses and shining a light on the best examples to guide consumers on purchase decisions with trophies and medals awarded to outstanding NZ cheeses.
The NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2025 medal winners are listed on www.cheeseloversnz.co.nz and www.nzsca.org.nz .
The highest scoring gold medal cheeses are in contention to be named as Champions at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2025 Gala Dinner in Hamilton on Thursday 1 May 2025.
