Best cheeses in New Zealand
The influence of Dutch cheesemaking is strong in New Zealand with Gouda and Edam varieties being judged as the country's best cheeses.
The 2012 Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards received 430 entries from 36 different cheese companies throughout New Zealand with judges awarding gold, silver and bronze medals and then naming a champion for each of 19 categories.
Meyer Vintage Gouda, produced by Meyer Gouda Cheese, won the Yealands Estate Champion of Champions Award for large cheesemakers, and Very Old Edam from Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese took the Cuisine Champion Artisan Award for smaller producers. These two supreme awards are recognised equally as the most prestigious awards for New Zealand cheese excellence.
The overall winners
Yealands Estate Champion of Champions Award
Meyer Vintage Gouda - Meyer Gouda Cheese
Cuisine Champion Artisan Cheese
Very Old Edam - Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
NZ Cheese School Champion Cheesemaker
Jacob Rosevear - Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
2012 Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards Category Winners:
The Langham Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Buffalo Mozzarella - Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
Countdown Champion Feta Cheese Award
Brinza - Gibbston Valley Cheese
Innovative Packaging Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Overbrook Brie - Talbot Forest Cheese
Elldex Packaging Champion Goat Cheese Award
Cilantro Chèvre - Cilantro Cheese
Monteith's Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Cumerino - Over The Moon Dairy Company
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Galactic Gold - Over the Moon Dairy Company
GEON Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Fonterra Edendale Cheddar - Fonterra Edendale (aged 26- 36 months)
QCONZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
Parmesan - Talbot Forest Cheese
NZ Labs/Bureau Veritas Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Vintage Leyden - Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Champion New Cheese Award
Buffalo Hard Cheese - Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
Fonterra Champion Original Cheese Award
Darfield - Gruff Junction
AsureQuality Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Garlic & Chive Gouda - Meyer Gouda Cheese
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Vintage Blue - Whitestone Cheese
Goodman Fielder Champion Export Cheese Award
Kapiti Kahurangi - Fonterra Brands NZ
New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award
Kapiti Kikorangi - Fonterra Brands NZ
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Whitestone Range - Whitestone Cheese
Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheese Award
Pohangina Blue by Adrian Walcroft
Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheesemaker Award
Adrian Walcroft of Ashhurst