NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2021
Following judging for the first time in Hamilton, the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) has announced 265 medal winners in the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2021.
In February 2021 more than 310 cheeses from 35 cheese companies were judged by the panel of 32 judges led by Chief Judge Jason Tarrant. Judging resulted in 265 medals being awarded; 84 gold medals, 121 silver medals and 60 bronze medals.
While there are too many medal winning cheeses to mention each one, some of the interesting gold medal cheeses include; Geraldine Cheese Company, Aged Deer Gouda which won gold in the Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese category, New Zealand Food Safety New Cheese gold winners Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese, Poukawa Fog and Whitestone Cheese Co, Oamaru Blue; and Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Salted Curd which won gold in the IFF/Danisco Fresh Unripened Cheese category.
Jason Tarrant said “Overall, the calibre of the entries was excellent with just over one out of every four cheeses entered earning a gold medal.”
Supreme Awards
Countdown Champion of Champions Commercial Cheese; Kāpiti, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
New World Champion of Champions Cheese from a Medium-sized Producer; Mahoe, Mahoe Very Old Edam
Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions Boutique Cheese; The Drunken Nanny Ltd, Black Tie Petite
MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker; Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese; Annie Nieuwenhuis & Geoff Nieuwenhuis
Category Trophies
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese; Geraldine Cheese Company, Geraldine Cheese Aged Deer Gouda
New Zealand Food Safety Champion New Cheese; Whitestone Cheese, Whitestone Oamaru Blue
Tetra Pak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese Award; Kāpiti, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
Wintec Champion Bulk Cheddar Cheese Award; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra NZMP Vintage
ECOLAB Champion Blue Cheese; Puhio Valley, Pakiri Beach Blue
Kiwi Labels Champion Greek/Cypriot Cheese, Puhoi Valley, Puhoi Valley Cow’s Milk Feta
CHR Hansen Champion Soft White Rind Cheese; Remutaka Pass Creamery, Remutaka Pass Creamery Summit Snow
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese; Mahoe, Mahoe Very Old Edam
NZSCA Champion European Style Cheese Award; Thorvald, Thorvald Little River Estate Aged Swiss
Cheeselinks Champion Fresh Italian Style Cheese; Massimo’s Italian Chesses, Massimo’s Burrata
Big Chill Distribution Champion Flavoured Cheese; Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese Smoked Gouda
Sabato Champion Farmhouse Cheese; Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese Cumin & Cloves
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese; Grinning Gecko Cheese Co, Grinning Gecko Kau Piro
Dish Champion Sheep Cheese; Geraldine Cheese Company, Geraldine Cheese Gouda
180 degrees New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award; Kāpiti, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
IFF Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award; Clevedon Buffalo Co, Clevedon Buffalo Salted Curd
Good George Brewing Champion Goat Cheese; The Drunken Nanny Ltd, The Drunken Nanny Black Tie Petite
Special Awards
Ignite Colleges Chefs’ Choice; Karikaas Pumahana
Innovative Packaging Aspiring Cheesemaker; Clara Autet, Grinning Gecko Cheese Co
Curds & Whey Champion Homecrafted Cheese and Cheesemaker; St Peters College, SPC Blue
C’est Cheese Champion Butter; Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Garlic & Parsley Butter
Countdown Champion Yoghurt; Clevedon Buffalo Co, Clevedon Buffalo Lemon Zest Yoghurt
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Canterbury Red
Fonterra Brands, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
WINTEC Bulk Cheddar Cheese
Fonterra NZMP Fonterra NZMP, Mature Organic Cheddar
Fonterra NZMP Fonterra NZMP, Epicure
Fonterra NZMP Fonterra NZMP, Vintage
Open Country Dairy, Cheddar, Tasty
SABATO Farmhouse Cheese
Meyer Cheese, Cumin & Cloves
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Kau Piro
Big Chill Distribution Flavour Added Cheeses
Clevedon Buffalo, Marinated Cheese with Thyme and Garlic
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Peppered Havarti
Mercer Cheese, Mercer NZ Bush
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese - Fenugreek
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese - Smoked Gouda
Good George Brewing Goat Cheese
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Rich Plain
Belle Chevre Creamery, Marinated Goat Cheese
Cartwheel Creamery, Nanny Blue
Cartwheel Creamery, Cartwheel Creamery Opiki Ma
Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese , Harvest Moon
The Drunken Nanny, Black Tie Petite
dish Sheep Cheese
Anabelle Fine Fresh Cheeses, Sheep Fromage Blanc
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Craggy Range Sheep Dairy Blue
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Craggy Range Sheep Dairy Pecorino
Geraldine Cheese Company, Gouda
Geraldine Cheese Company, Feta
Geraldine Cheese Company, Parmesan
Thorvald, Thorvald Curado
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Pecorino
Curds & Whey Homecrafted Cheese and Cheesemaker
St Peters College, St Peters College Blue
Countdown Yoghurt
Clevedon Buffalo, Natural Yoghurt
Clevedon Buffalo, Vanilla Bean Yoghurt
Clevedon Buffalo, Lemon Zest Yoghurt
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Greek Yoghurt
C’est Cheese Butter
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Garlic & Parsley Butter
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Anchor Salted Butter (Whareroa)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Salted Butter (Morrinsville)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Salted Butter (Te Awamutu)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Unsalted Butter (Clandeboye)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Unsalted Butter (Kauri)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Unsalted Lactic Butter (Kauri)
Westland Milk Products, Westgold Salted Butter
Westland Milk Products, Westgold Unsalted Butter
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Company, Aged Deer Gouda
Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Five Forks
ECOLAB Blue Cheese
Fonterra Brands, Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Fonterra Brands, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Pakiri Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Windsor Blue
New Zealand Food Safety New Cheese
Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese, Poukawa Fog
Whitestone Cheese Co, Oamaru Blue
CHR Hansen Soft White Rind Cheese
Fonterra Brands, Kāpiti Kahikatea Camembert
Fonterra Brands, Mainland Special Reserve Double Cream Camembert
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Double Delight
Remutaka Pass Creamery, Remutaka Pass Creamery Summit Snow
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Lindis Pass Brie
Kiwi Labels Greek/Cypriot Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Feta
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Grinning Gecko Halloumi
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Cow Feta
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Classic Feta
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Buratta
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Cherry Mozzarella
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Ricotta
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Cherry Bocconcini
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Burrata
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Ricotta
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Bocconcini of Mozzarella
IFF/Danisco Fresh Unripened Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Salted Curd
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Anchor Cream Cheese (Darfield)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Cream Cheese (Te Rapa)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Easy Mix Cream Cheese (Darfield)
AsureQuality Dutch Style Cheese
Karikaas, Karikaas Vintage Gouda
Karikaas, Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Very Old Edam
Meyer Cheese, Vintage Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Italian Herb
European Style Cheeses
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Maasdam
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Rinded Cheshire
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Havarti
Fonterra Brands, Kāpiti Kānuka Havarti
Geraldine Cheese Company, Parmesan
Thorvald, Little River Estate Aged Swiss
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Caciocavallo
Whitestone Cheese Co, #55
180 Degrees Export Cheese
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Karikaas, Pumahana
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Awa Tangy Blue
Nieuwenhuis Farmstead, Cheese Aroha
Whitestone Cheese Co, Round Hill
ECOLAB Blue Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Company, Mesopotamia Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Matakana Blue
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Creamy Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Windsor Blue
New Zealand Food Safety New Cheese
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Pakari Blackcurrant Aged Cheddar
CHR Hansen Soft White Rind Cheese
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Mainland Special Reserve Double Cream Brie
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Grinning Gecko Camembert
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Apollo
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Aroha
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Triple Cream Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Lindis Pass Camembert
Kiwi Labels Greek/Cypriot Style Cheese
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Mainland Traditional Crumbly Feta
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Mainland Haloumi
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Cracked Pepper Haloumi
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Chilli Haloumi
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Traditional Haloumi
Wairiri Buffalo, Wairiri Buffalo Feta
Wairiri Buffalo, Wairiri Buffalo Halloumi
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Creamy Feta
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Halloumi
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Bocconcini
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Bocconcini
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Stracciatella
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Burrata
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Italian Style Ricotta
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Mascarpone
IFF/Danisco Fresh Unripened Cheese
Anabelle Fine Fresh Cheeses, Crème Fraîche
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra 6073_Anchor Cream Cheese
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Quark
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Cottage Cheese
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Cream Cheese
AsureQuality Dutch Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Aged Gouda with Cumin Seed
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Chilli Gouda
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Gouda
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Brine Salt Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Cumin Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Tasty Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Cumin Gouda
European Style Cheeses
Cartwheel Creamery, Cartwheel Creamery Beer-Washed Epitome
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Parmesan
Geraldine Cheese Company, Havarti
Karikaas, Maasdam
Mercer Cheese, Mercer Gruyere
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese, Maasdam
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio NoZtrano
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Wainui Special Vintage Cheddar
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Onawe (Mature Cheddar)
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Coldsmoked Appletree Cheddar
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Coldsmoked Pohutukawa Red
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Wood Smoke
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Pakari Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands, Kāpiti Pakari Smoked Cheddar
SABATO Farmhouse Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Oaxaca
Meyer Cheese, Old Master
The Drunken Nanny, Black Tie
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Burgundy Moon
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Galactic Gold
dish Sheep Cheese
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Craggy Range Sheep Dairy Feta
Thorvald, Thorvald Devotion
SABATO Farmhouse Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Oaxaca
Meyer Cheese, Old Master
The Drunken Nanny, Black Tie
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Burgundy Moon
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Galactic Gold
Big Chill Distribution Flavour Added Cheeses
Clevedon Buffalo, Marinated Cheese with Chilli and Lime
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Kānuka Havarti Smoked
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Black Garlic Dip/Spread
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Black Truffle Dip/Spread
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese, Cracked Pepper
Good George Brewing Goat Cheese
Belle Chevre Creamery, Bousin de Chevre
Cranky Goat, Cullensville Gold
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Goat’s Milk Gouda
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Capricorn
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Goat Blue
180 Degrees Export Cheese
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Pakari Blackcurrant Aged Cheddar
Fonterra NZMP, Strong Cheddar
Fonterra NZMP, Cheddar-S
Open Country Dairy, Cheddar (Japan)
Open Country Dairy, Cheddar - Medium
Countdown Yoghurt
Belle Chevre Creamery, Yo-Goat
Clevedon Buffalo, Passionfruit Yoghurt
Clevedon Buffalo, Boysenberry Yoghurt
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Anchor Protein + Natural Unsweetened Yoghurt
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), De Winkel Plain Unsweetened Yoghurt
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Fresh'n Fruity Greek Strawberry Yoghurt
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Anchor Protein+ Coconut Yoghurt
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Natural Yoghurt
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Kefir Yoghurt
Thorvald, Thorvald Sheep Milk Plain Yoghurt
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Yogurt
C’est Cheese Butter
Bellefield Butter Co, Sea Salt Craft Cultured Butter
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Salted Spreadable Butter (Kauri)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Pastry Butter (Edgecumbe)
Fonterra NZMP, Mainland Reduced Salt Buttersoft (Morrinsville)
Fonterra NZMP, Mainland Semisoft Butter (Morrinsville)
Fonterra NZMP, Anchor Salted Butter Cans (Morrinsville)
Fonterra NZMP, Mainland Salted Buttersoft (Morrinsville)
Fonterra NZMP, Anchor Salted Butter (Te Rapa)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Unsalted Pastry Butter (Edgecumbe)
Fonterra NZMP, Anchor Unsalted Butter (Edgecumbe)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Carbon Zero Unsalted Organic Butter (Morrinsville)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Unsalted Butter (Te Awamutu)
Fonterra NZMP, Anchor Unsalted Butter(Te Rapa)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Lactic Pastry Butter (Edgecumbe)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Unsalted Lactic Butter (Whareroa)
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra Unsalted Lactic Butter (Clandeboye)
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Lightly Salted Butter
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Sea Salt Crystal Butter
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Unsalted Butter
WINTEC Bulk Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Rinded Cheddar
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Cheddar-S
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Mild Organic Cheddar
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Coloured Cheddar
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Tasty
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Colby Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Company, Pleasant Valley Cheddar
Open Country Dairy, Cheddar – Mild
Open Country Dairy, Cheddar - Medium
Open Country Dairy, Cheddar (Japan)
Open Country Dairy, Cheddar - Mature
ECOLAB Blue Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Company, Mt Peel Blue
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Kallarney Blue
New Zealand Food Safety New Cheese
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Blended Blue Vein
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Mozzarella
Fonterra NZMP Fonterra NZMP, Premium Mozzarella Frozen
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Mozzarella
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Mozzarella (fresh in brine Buffalo milk)
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Ricotta
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Provola Affumicata (Smoked Mozzarella)
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Stracciatella
IFF/Danisco Fresh Unripened Cheese
Mahoe Cheese, Mahoe Quark
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Crème Fraiche
AsureQuality Dutch Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Aged Gouda Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Edam
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Kakato Gouda Karikaas, Cumin/Leyden
Mahoe Cheese, Very Old Gouda
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Garlic & Chives Gouda
The Cheese Barn, The Cheese Barn Organic Gouda
European Style Cheeses
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Swiss-Style Cheese
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Fontal
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Cheshire
WINTEC Bulk Cheddar Cheese
Fonterra NZMP Fonterra NZMP, Noble™ Cheese
Fonterra NZMP Fonterra NZMP, Cheddarsan
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Tasty
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Epicure
Fonterra NZMP, Fonterra NZMP Coloured Cheddar
Geraldine Cheese Company, Geraldine Heritage Cheddar
SABATO Farmhouse Cheese
Nieuwenhuis Farmstead, Cheese Yellowstone
The Drunken Nanny, Rowdy Red
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Manchego
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Washed Rind
Whitestone Cheese Co, Catalina Rouge - Apple Cider
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Marore
Big Chill Distribution Flavour Added Cheeses
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Balsamic & Onion Cheddar
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Coldsmoked Manuka Havarti
Clevedon Buffalo, Smoked Paprika Tartinade
Clevedon Buffalo, Herb and Garlic Tartinade
Fonterra Brands (New Zealand), Kāpiti Kirīmi Chilli & Garlic Triple Cream Cheese
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Reka Rawa Truffle Brie
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Cheese, Garlic & Chives
Thorvald, Little River Estate Wildfire
Good George Brewing Goat Cheese
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Cumin
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Fenufreek
Aroha Organic Goat Cheese, Aroha Raw Milk Pepperazzi
Belle Chevre Creamery, Betta than Feta
Cranky Goat, The Lynton
Cranky Goat, Soft Goats Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Company, Havarti
Geraldine Cheese Company, Blue
Geraldine Cheese Company, Parmesan
Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese , Marinated Cloud
dish Sheep Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Pecorino
Meyer Cheese, Meyer Sheep’s Milk Gouda
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Sheep Havarti
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Sheep Milk Camembert
180 Degrees Export Cheese
Fonterra NZMP Fonterra NZMP, Dry Salt Gouda
Countdown Yoghurt
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery
Boysenberry & Rose
Curds & Whey Homecrafted Cheese and Cheesemaker
St Peters College, St Peters College Camembert