NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2016
Category Winners
Countdown Champion of Champions Cheese Award
Puhoi Valley Kawau Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Champion Artisan Cheese Award
Mercer Extra Mature Gouda
Mercer Cheese
Milk Test NZ Champion Cheesemaker Award
Jeanne van Kuyk
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Meyer Tasty Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Ministry for Primary Industries Champion New Cheese Award
Matariki – Wangapeka Family Dairy
Primary ITO Aspiring Cheesemaker Award
Loran Mathis - Over The Moon Dairy Company
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award
Pumahana – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Cheeselinks Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Origin Earth Smoked Sheep Cheese – Origin Earth
Tetra Pak Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Kapiti Tuteremoana Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Renco New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award
Puhoi Valley Fresh Goat – Puhoi Valley Cheese
New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award
Kapiti Kahurangi - Fonterra Brands NZ
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Dairyworks Grated Cheese range – Dairyworks
Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheese & Cheesemaker
Sentry Hill Quark – Phillippa White
Food for Chefs Champion Butter Award
Westgold Unsalted Butter - Westland Milk Products
Green Valley Dairies Champion Yoghurt Award
Symbio Probalance Blueberry Wholegrain Yoghurt – Fonterra Brands NZ
The Langham Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Over The Moon ‘Volcano’ – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Kiwi Labels Champion Feta Cheese Award
Origin Earth Feta – Origin Earth
Innovative Packaging Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Grinning Gecko Brie – Grinning Gecko Cheese Co
180 degrees Champion Goat Cheese Award
Aroha Raw Milk Jubilee – Aroha Organic Goat Company
NZ Chefs Association Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Mercer Pecorino – Mercer Cheese
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Washed Rind – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Puhoi Valley Kawau Blue – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Eurofins NZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
Farmhouse Mature – Crescent Dairy Goats
Gold Medal Winners
NZ Chefs Association Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Mercer Pecorino – Mercer Cheese
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Alpeggio – Emilio’s Cheese
Kau Piro – Grinning Gecko Cheese Co
Puhoi Valley Kaipara Washed Rind – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Farmhouse – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Washed Rind – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Bouton d’Or Creamy Blue – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Strong Blue – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Kawau Blue – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Eurofins NZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
Colby – Fonterra Hautapu
Old Gold – Crescent Dairy Goats
Farmhouse Mature – Crescent Dairy Goats
Tui – Wangapeka Family Dairy
Stagionata – Emilio’s Cheese
Halloumi – Origin Earth
Zanyzeus Halloumi – Zanyzeus
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Gouda – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Gouda – Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Mercer Mature Gouda – Mercer Cheese
Meyer Amsterdammer – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Ministry for Primary Industries Champion New Cheese Award
Blue Monkey – Mount Eliza Cheese
Matariki – Wangapeka Family Dairy
The Nanny – Cranky Goat
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Camembert – Puhoi Valley Cheese Matatoki
Mountain Cheese – The Cheese Barn at Matatoki
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award
Kapiti Tuteremoana – Fonterra Brands NZ
Mainland Noble Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Whiterock aged – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Pumahana – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Old Gold – Crescent Dairy Goats
Cheeselinks Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Origin Earth Smoked Sheep Cheese – Origin Earth
Tuscan Feta – Lonely Goat
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Dairyworks Smokey Joe Natural Grated – Dairyworks
Dairyworks 3 Ch3eeze Natural Grated – Dairyworks
Dairyworks Gouda As Gouda Natural Grated – Dairyworks
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Dairyworks Holey Cheeses Natural Grated – Dairyworks
Dairyworks Parmesan Natural Grated – Dairyworks
Dairyworks Tasty Sticks – Dairyworks
Curds & Whey Champion Homecrafted Cheese
Sentry Hill Quark
Food for Chefs Champion Butter Award
Westgold Unsalted Butter – Westland Milk Products
Green Valley Dairies Champion Yoghurt Award
De Winkel Plain Unsweetened – Fonterra Brands NZ Symbio Probalance Blueberry Wholegrain – Fonterra Brands NZ
The Langham Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Zanyzeus Crème Fraiche – Zanyzeus
Mascarpone – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Meadow Fresh Spreadable Cream Cheese – Goodman Fielder Longburn
Zanyzeus Cream Cheese – Zanyzeus
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Mozzarella – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Boccincini – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company Mozzarella Knot – Il Casaro
Boccincini – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Buffalo Ricotta – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Ricotta – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Over The Moon ‘Volcano’ – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Kiwi Labels Champion Feta Cheese Award
Origin Earth Feta – Origin Earth
Innovative Packaging Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Grinning Gecko Brie – Grinning Gecko Cheese Co
Puhoi Valley Normandy Camembert – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Camembert – Puhoi Valley Cheese
180 degrees Champion Goat Cheese Award
Aroha Raw Milk Rich Plain – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Aroha Jubilee – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Aroha Raw Milk Jubilee – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Barrys Bay Aged Gouda – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Gouda Vintag – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Very Old Gouda – Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Mercer Extra Mature Gouda – Mercer Cheese
Meyer Vintage Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Meyer Tasty Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Organic Gouda – The Cheese Barn at Matatoki
Barrys Bay Aged Edam – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Very Old Edam – Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Edam – The Cheese Barn at Matatoki
Barrys Bay Maasdam – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Maasdam – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Barrys Bay Edam – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Edam – Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Barrys Bay Gouda – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Tetra Pak Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Cheddar (aged up to 19 months) – Open Country Cheese Company
Mainland Vintage Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Cheddar (aged up to 25 months) – Fonterra Lichfield
Cheddar (aged up to 25 months) – Fonterra Lichfield
Mainland Epicure Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Kapiti Tuteremoana – Fonterra Brands NZ
Cheddar (aged over 37 months) – Fonterra Lichfield
Renco New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award
Puhoi Valley Fresh Goat – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Silver Medal Winners
Food for Chefs Champion Butter Award
No medals awarded
Green Valley Dairies Champion Yoghurt Award
No medals awarded
The Langham Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Ricotta – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
Meadow Fresh Crème Fraiche – Goodman Fielder Longburn
Knotted Burrata – Il Casaro
Bocconcini Nodini – Il Casaro
Puhoi Valley Crème Fraiche – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Fiddlers Hill – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Zanyzeus Ricotta – Zanyzeus
Kiwi Labels Champion Feta Cheese Award
Vintage Feta – Blue River Dairy
Tussock Creek Feta – Blue River Dairy
Feta – Cartwheel Creamery
Salt Of The Earth – Crescent Dairy Goats
Original Feta – Lonely Goat
Origin Earth Feta – Origin Earth
Puhoi Valley Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Goat Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Bouton d’Or Goat Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Bouton d’Or Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Frisky Feta – The Drunken Nanny
Zanyzeus Creamy Feta – Zanyzeus
Zanyzeus Classic Feta – Zanyzeus
Innovative Packaging Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Over The Moon Aroha – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Puhoi Valley Farmhouse Brie – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Traditional Bri – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Te Muri Triple Cream – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Double Cream Brie – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Double Cream Camembert – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Cheeky Camembert – The Drunken Nanny
Ministry for Primary Industries Champion New Cheese Award
Aroha Raw Milk Pepperazzi – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
The Nag – Cranky Goat
Hohepa Blue – Hohepa Homes
Hohepa Fenugreek – Hohepa Homes
Red Leicester – Mount Eliza Cheese
Cheeselinks Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Aroha Cumin – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Aroha Raw Milk Passion – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Barrys Bay Chilli Gouda – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Farmhouse with Cumin – Crescent Dairy Goats
Kapiti Smoked Havarti – Fonterra Brands NZ Meadow Fresh Traditional Cottage
Cheese – Chives & Garlic – Goodman Fielder Longburn
Truffle Burrata – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Meyer Smoked Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Meyer Cracked pepper – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Bouton d’Or Basil Pesto Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Basil Pesto Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Urbock – Wangapeka Family Dairy
Zanyzeus Smoked Ricotta – Zanyzeus
Curds & Whey Champion Homecrafted Cheese Award
By The Whey Mozzarella
Cathie Hepworth’s Ashley
Laughing Bones Case in Point
Nigel Dickson’s Hereweka Mature Gouda
Nigel Dickson’s Hereweka Pamu
Sentry Hill Feta
Susan King’s Double Brie
180 degrees Champion Goat Cheese Award
Aroha Rich Plain – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Cilantro Chevre – Cilantro Cheese
Parvenu – Crescent Dairy Goats
Black Forest – Crescent Dairy Goats
Black Ti – The Drunken Nanny
NZ Chefs Association Champion Sheep Cheese Award
No medals awarded
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Coppermine – Cartwheel Creamery
Kapiti Ramara – Fonterra Brands NZ
Origin Earth Pink & White Terraces – Origin Earth
Puhoi Valley Washed Rind – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Kapiti Kikorangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue – Fonterra Brands NZ
Sunset Blue – Kingsmeade
Over The Moon Creamy Blue – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Waxed Blue – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Goat Blue – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Eurofins NZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
Arran Farm Halloumi – Arran Farm
Barrys Bay Maasdam – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Barrys Bay Gruyere – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Garlic Halloumi – Cartwheel Creamery
Colby – Fonterra Stirling
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Leyden Vintage – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products
Mercer Extra Mature Cumin Gouda – Mercer Cheese
Origin Earth Dutchee – Origin Earth
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award
Aroha Raw Milk Passion – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese Barrys Bay Peninsula Kelp Pepper Havarti – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Flat White – Crescent Dairy Goats
Kapiti Ramara – Fonterra Brands NZ
Blue Monkey – Mount Eliza Cheese
OTM ‘Burgundy Moon’ – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Tetra Pak Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Barrys Bay Onawe – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Mainland Tasty Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Kapiti Pakari Aged Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Cheddar (aged up to 19 months) – Fonterra Lichfield
Cheddar (aged between 26 and 36 months) – Fonterra Lichfield
Cheddar (aged less than 12 months) – Open Country Cheese Company
Cheddar (aged up to 19 months) – Open Country Cheese Company
Cheddar (aged up to 25 months) – Open Country Cheese Company
Renco New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award
Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue – Fonterra Brands NZ
Gouda – Fonterra Lichfield
Puhoi Valley Camembert – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Dairyworks Cube It Square Edam – Dairyworks
Dairyworks Cube It Square Feta – Dairyworks
Bronze Medal Winners
180 degrees Champion Goat Cheese Award
Over The Moon Goat Camembert – Over The Moon Dairy Company
OTM Goat Curd – Over The Moon Dairy Company
NZ Chefs Association Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Meyer Sheep Milk Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Origin Earth Sleeping Giant – Origin Earth
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Origin Earth Pink & White Terraces Sheep – Origin Earth
OTM Galactic Gold – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Savvy Washed Rind – The Drunken Nanny
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Tinui Blue – Kingsmeade
Mahoe Blue – Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Eurofins NZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
Port Cooper – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Barrys Bay Vacchino Romano – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Traditional Halloumi – Epicurean Dairy
Mainland Special Reserve Creamy Havarti – Fonterra Brands NZ
Hohepa Danbo – Hohepa Homes
Meyer Maasdam – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Open Country Colby – Open Country Cheese Company
OTM Halloumi – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Udderly Carefree (Caerphilly) – Udder Success Dairy Co.
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Barrys Bay Cumin Gouda – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Mainland Edam – Fonterra Brands NZ
Cumin in Gouda – Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Mercer Old Bel Paso – Mercer Cheese
Mercer Mature Cumin Gouda – Mercer Cheese
Meyer Cumin Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Meyer Fenugreek – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Organic Cumin Gouda – The Cheese Barn at Matatoki
Ministry for Primary Industries Champion New Cheese Award
Mufti – Crescent Dairy Goats
Meyer Goats Milk Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Cheeselinks Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Aroha Fenugreek – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Aroha Raw Milk Cumin – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Aroha Raw Milk Fenugreek – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Aroha Raw Milk Nutty Nanny – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Barrys Bay Smoked Cheddar – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Barrys Bay Chive – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Barrys Bay Balsamic Vinegar & Onions – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Barrys Bay Hand Crafted Beer Cheese – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Farmhouse Fenugreek – Crescent Dairy Goats
Sting – Crescent Dairy Goats
Kapiti Pakari Smoked Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Kapiti Port Wine Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Smoked Scamorza – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Tarutaru Reka – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Meyer Garlic & Chives – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Bouton d’Or Cumin Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Zingy Chilli Feta – Zanyzeus
Curds & Whey Champion Homecrafted Cheese
Bri DiMattina’s Mascarpone
By The Whey Halloumi
By The Whey Gruyere Jeune
Cathie Hepworth’s Goat Feta
Janine Jordan’s Cam Blu
Janine Jordan’s Camembert
Jenny Savannah’s Marinated Feta
Laughing Bones Blue Goudaness
Laughing Bones How Goudais That?
Sentry Hill Pecorino
Food for Chefs Champion Butter Award
Premium Sea Salt Crystal Butter – Lewis Road Creamery
Westgold Salted Butter – Westland Milk Products
Green Valley Dairies Champion Yoghurt Award
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Boysenberry Yoghurt – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
Straight Up Yoghurt – Epicurean Dairy
Fig n Ginger Greek Yoghurt – Epicurean Dairy
Unsweetened Coconut Kefir – Epicurean Dairy
Piako Plain – Fonterra Brands NZ
Anchor Greek Passionfruit – Fonterra Brands NZ
Anchor Greek Strawberry – Fonterra Brands NZ
Symbio Probalance Mixed Berry – Fonterra Brands NZ
Puhoi Greek Style Yoghurt – Goodman Fielder Longburn
Mahoe Greek Yoghurt – Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese
Beetroot & Cardamom Yoghurt – Retro Organics
The Langham Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Meadow Fresh Traditional Cottage Cheese – Goodman Fielder Longburn
Buffalo Mozzarella – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Bouton d’Or Crème Fraiche – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Bouton d’Or Mascarpone – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Zanyzeus Sour Cream – Zanyzeus
Zanyzeus Mascarpone – Zanyzeus
Kiwi Labels Champion Feta Cheese Award
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Feta – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
Feta – Cranky Goat
Innovative Packaging Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Chevrolait – Crescent Dairy Goats
Kapiti Aorangi Traditional Brie – Fonterra Brands NZ
Grinning Gecko Camembert – Grinning Gecko Cheese Co.
Origin Earth Sheep Camembert style – Origin Earth
Origin Earth Cow Camembert style – Origin Earth
OTM Camembert – Over The Moon Dairy Company
Bouton d’Or Mini Brie – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Traditional Log – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Bouton d’Or Camembert – Puhoi Valley Cheese
St Benedict The Black – Whangaripo Buffalo Cheese Co
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award
Aroha Raw Milk Nutty Nanny – Aroha Organic Goat Cheese
Barrys Bay Cacao Nib Havarti – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Sting – Crescent Dairy Goats
Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue – Fonterra Brands NZ
Kapiti Kikorangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Mainland Egmont – Fonterra Brands NZ
Kapiti Aorangi Traditional Brie – Fonterra Brands NZ
Noble – Fonterra Hautapu
Egmont – Fonterra Lichfield
St Mary’s Redemption – Whangaripo Buffalo Cheese Co.
Flying 15 – Whangaripo Buffalo Cheese Co.
Tetra Pak Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Barry Bay Wainui – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Mild Cheddar (aged less than 6 months) – Fonterra Edendale
Mild Cheddar (aged less than 6 months) – Fonterra Kaikoura
Cheddar (aged up to 19 months) – Fonterra Stirling
Open Country Cheddar (aged less than 6 months) – Open Country Cheese Company
Cheddar (aged less than 12 months) – Open Country Cheese Company
Renco New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Mozzarella – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Bocconcini – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Co
Kapiti Kikorangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Kapiti Tuteremoana Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Swiss Cheese – Fonterra Lichfield
Taupo – Fonterra Lichfield
Open Country Cheddar – Open Country Cheese Company
Open Country Cheddar – Open Country Cheese Company
Puhoi Valley Distinction – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Puhoi Valley Cheddar – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Grinning Gecko range