NZ Champions of Cheese Trophy Winners 2018
Thursday 15 March 2018
In a year where the international Master Judge said the quality of New Zealand-made cheese has never been better, the
top two awards have gone to small, independent cheesemakers.
Countdown Champion of Champions Cheese – Commercial, was awarded to The Cheese Barn Organic Cumin Seed Gouda, and Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions Cheese – Artisan was awarded to Clevedon Buffalo Ricotta.
Master Judge Russell Smith, from Australia, who judges cheeses at competitions around the world, said the quality of New
Zealand cheese continues to improve. He says New Zealanders should be proud of the local cheese available from their
supermarket or cheesemonger.
Countdown Champion of Champions Cheese – Commercial, The Cheese Barn Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
For more than 20 years Kelvin and Cathy Haigh have owned and run The Cheese Barn in the Thames-Coromandel district. They
make BioGro certified organic cheeses and yoghurts that are unhomogenised, gluten free, have no GMO, no artificial
additives, no antibiotics or growth hormones and no chemical sprays. They have entered cheese in the NZ Champions of
Cheese Awards since 1998 winning many medals. This is the first trophy-winning cheese, and so the first time they have
also been awarded the commercial champion of the show.
Master Judge Russell Smith said “this Cumin Seed Gouda was an absolutely superb cheese and that’s why it’s been named
champion. The flavour profile exhibited all the best characteristics of this traditional style. The piquancy of the
cumin blending beautifully with the slightly sweet yet savoury notes of the cheese.”
To be eligible for the Champion of Champions Commercial cheesemakers must produce over 25 tonnes per annum.
Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions Cheese – Artisan, Clevedon Buffalo Ricotta.
Owned and operated by Richard and Helen Dorresteyn, Clevedon Buffalo Co. is in Clevedon, a rural town, south of Auckland
city. The first people to commercially farm buffalo in New Zealand, they own 150 head of Riverine water buffalo and use
their milk, which contains more protein and calcium and roughly half the cholesterol of cow’s milk, to make a delicious
range of mozzarella, bocconcini, yoghurt, marinated cheese and ricotta.
Russell Smith said “What an amazing feat for a fresh style of cheese to win Champion. This indicates just how good this
ricotta really is. Sweet with just a hint of savoury all balanced by a superb texture from the buffalo milk. Ricotta
just doesn't get any better than this.”
Clevedon Buffalo were awarded four trophies including the Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions Cheese – Artisan, to
qualify for the Champion of Champions Artisan cheesemakers must produce less than 25 tonnes annually.
Three Trophies for Meyer Cheese
Waikato’s Meyer Cheese were also significant winners, collecting three trophies: Milk Test NZ Champion Cheesemaker Award
for Geert Meyer, Eurofins NZ Champion European Style Cheese Award for Meyer Maasdam and Martinborough Vineyard Champion
Flavoured Cheese Award
for their Meyer Cracked Pepper.
Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheese & Cheesemaker
Air New Zealand Dreamliner pilot and keen home cheesemaker Tony Hamblyn, was named Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheese & Cheesemaker for his Karaka Brick Gold cheese. Brick style cheese is a take on English cheddar, originally made in
Wisconsin, US, its name comes from its brick-shaped form. Tony lives on a lifestyle block near Waiuku and has four cows.
He was mentored by New Zealand Specialist Cheesemaker’s Association member, Lyn Haycock from the Glenbrook Cheese
Company and learned a few tips from her.
This was the 15th NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, run by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association. More than
2000 kg of cheeses were assessed by28 judges supported by 30 stewards on Saturday 24 February at the AUT School of
Hospitality and Tourism. They awarded; 23 trophies, 41 gold medals, 66 silver medals and 53 bronze medals to New Zealand
cheesemakers. The NZ Champion of Cheese trophy winners were announced at Fale Pasifika in Auckland at a gala awards
event on Thursday 15 March.
ENDS.