Aotearoa's Top Cheeses Named in 20th Year of NZ Champions of Cheese Awards

The country’s top cheeses have been recognised with 162 receiving medals following the 20^th year of judging for the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.

Medals are almost equally split with; 57 Gold, 55 Silver and 48 Bronze being awarded following two days of intensive judging at Wintec Te Pūkenga, Rotokauri Campus in early March.

Master Judge, Jason Tarrant, presided over the panel of 30 judges who came from throughout New Zealand and Australia. Judges are a mix of cheesemakers, cheese retailers, food technologists and food writers who sniffed, tasted a range of New Zealand-made cheese across 20 categories including; ewe milk, washed rind, blue cheese, Dutch style, fresh Italian style, Greek-Cypriot style and cheddar. Judges were supported by a further 20 stewards. 

Jason Tarrant congratulated all the NZ Champions of Cheese medal winners saying this year’s competition was hotly contested and every medal awarded was hard won after being assessed by the judges who worked in panels of three.

“Looking back over 20 years of the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards it’s wonderful to see many of the same winners from the inaugural awards in 2004 have been recognised again this year,” he said. 2004 trophy winners included Puhoi, Whitestone Cheese, Fonterra Brands NZ Kāpiti, Fonterra Brands NZ Mainland and Zany Zeus. This year Kāpiti was awarded 28 medals, Zany Zeus achieved nine medals, Whitestone Cheese received eight medals, Puhoi attained seven medals and Mainland three.

Jason Tarrant noted, “judges were particularly impressed with the Filtercorp New Cheese category. It’s exciting for our industry to see so many new cheeses and it bodes well for the future that there is so much innovation and new product development. Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti deserves a special shout for receiving four medals in this category – two Gold Medals, one Silver and one Bronze medal.” 

As is the case each year, one of the most contested accolades was the AsureQuality Dutch-Style Cheese with 15 medals awarded. Jason explained that Dutch-Style cheeses have attained a special place in New Zealand following the arrival of emigrants from Holland in the 1970s and 1980s who brought their cheesemaking recipes and skills with them. Other categories applauded by judges for delivering quality NZ cheese were CHR Hansen Soft Ripened Cheese in which 12 medals were awarded and Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese which was recognised with 18 medals.  Jason explained fresh Italian cheeses are growing in popularity with NZ cheese lovers who are a bit more adventurous and well-travelled than 20 years ago, when the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards began.

New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association runs the annual competition with association Chair Simon Lamb thanking the stewards and judges who volunteer their time. He also made special note of the Awards sponsors, many of whom – such as Countdown and New World - have been with the Awards for its 20-year history.  

“Hundreds of volunteer hours judging and industry sponsors of the NZ Champion of Cheese Awards make this annual celebration of locally produced cheese possible. We recognise how important

these partners are to help the Association assess the country’s top cheeses, recognise technical excellence in locally produced cheese and ultimately drive consumption of NZ cheese.”

Medal winners for NZ Champions of Cheese 2023 are available on the CheeseloversNZ website. Champions announced at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards Gala Dinner – celebrating 20 years – at the Atrium in Hamilton on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Medal Winners of 2023

Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Gold Medals
Whitestone Cheese Co, Drunken Windsor Blue     

Ecolab Blue Cheese
Gold Medals
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Bridge Street Blue
Mount Eliza Cheese, Blue Monkey    
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Pakiri

Filtercorp New Cheese
Gold Medal
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Clive Cumino
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Ash Rind White
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Bridge Street Blue

CHR Hansen Soft Ripened Cheese
Gold Medals
Cartwheel Creamery, Opiki Ma
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Ash Rind White
Over the Moon Dairy, Camembert
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Double Cream Brie
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Bouton d'or - Double Cream Camembert
Whitestone Cheese Co, Lindis Pass Camembert
Whitestone Cheese Co, Probiotic Brie

Kiwi Labels Greek/Cypriot Style Cheese
Gold Medals                                    
The Cheese Barn, Organic Halloumi

Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese       
Gold Medals                                    
Clevedon Buffalo Co, Bocconcini
Clevedon Buffalo Co, Cherry Mozzarella
Clevedon Buffalo Co, Ricotta
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Burratina
ViaVio Cheese, Burrata
ViaVio Cheese, Stracciatella di Burrata
Zany Zeus, Ricotta

Wintec Te Pūkenga Fresh Unripened Cheese      
Gold Medals                                    
Clevedon Buffalo Co, Whipped Cream Cheese
Fonterra Anchor Food Professionals, Anchor Easy Mix Cream Cheese
Fonterra Anchor Food Professionals, Anchor Traditional Cream Cheese
Fonterra Cooperative Group, NZMP Anchor Traditional Cream Cheese
Fonterra Cooperative Group, NZMP High Solids Cream Cheese
Zany Zeus, Crème Fraiche

AsureQuality Dutch-Style Cheese
Gold Medals
Fonterra Cooperative Group, NZMP Brine Salt Gouda
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Karikaas Vintage Gouda
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Karikaas Cumin/Leyden
Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Karikaas Goudaz
Mahoe Cheese, Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Mature Edam
Mahoe Cheese, Mature Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Old Master
Meyer Cheese, Vintage Gouda 

IXOM European Style Cheese
Gold Medals
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, Hōhepa Vintage Danbo
Over the Moon Dairy, Tomme

Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Gold Medals
Barrys Bay Cheese, Canterbury Red
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar 

Sealed Air Bulk or Large Block Cheddar
Gold Medals
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Special Reserve Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Epicure
Open Country Dairy, Extra Mature Cheddar

Sabato Farmhouse Cheese
Gold Medal                            
Meyer Cheese, Mild Gouda

Thermaflo Washed Rind
Gold Medal                   
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Rarama Washed Rind

Big Chill Distribution Fresh Flavour Added Cheeses
Gold Medals                                    
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kirīmi Chilli & Garlic Triple Cream Cheese 

Interchem Agencies Aged Flavour Added Cheese
Gold Medals
Barrys Bay Cheese, 3 Boys Brewery Oyster Stout Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Havarti Smoked
Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek
Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda

OJI Fibre Solutions Goat Milk Cheese
Gold Medals                                    
Belle Chèvre Creamery, Zalloumi
Cartwheel Creamery, Goat Tomme
Cartwheel Creamery, Doe Rei Mi
The Drunken Nanny, Black Tie

dish Sheep Milk Cheese
Gold Medals                 
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Clive Cumino
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Te Mata Blue
Meyer Cheese, Sheep Milk Gouda

Dominion Salt Export Cheese
Gold Medals                                             
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Havarti Smoked                                                                                                                      

Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker
Gold Medal
St Peter’s College, SPC Blue