With some of the best milk in the world with which to work, New Zealand cheesemakers are building a reputation for making some of the best commercial and artisan cheeses in the world.
The best of the best are judged annually in the NZ Champions of Cheese awards.
Best cheeses in New Zealand
Overall winners
Champion of Champions Cheese Award (Commercial)
Meyer Gouda Cheese
Meyer Smoked Goat Gouda
Champion of Champions Cheese Award (Artisan)
Mercer Cheese
Fifty Fifty
Champion Cheesemaker Award
Catherine Oakley
Just Ewe – Winsam Farm
Category winners
Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Mozzarella Log – Massimo’s Italian Cheeses
Champion Feta Cheese Award
Puhoi Valley Feta – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Grinning Gecko Brie – Grinning Gecko Cheese Co.
Champion Goat Cheese Award
Meyer Goat Milk Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Just Ewe Winsam Farmhouse – Winsam Farm
Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Puhoi Valley Cellar Range Washed Rind – Puhoi Valley Cheese
Champion Blue Cheese Award
Kapiti Kikorangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Champion European Style Cheese Award
Barrys Bay Havarti – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Meyer Fenugreek – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Champion New Cheese Award
Meyer Smoked Goat Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Aspiring Cheesemaker Award
Zev Kaka-Holtz – Grinning Gecko Cheese Co.
Champion Original Cheese Award
Kapiti Kikorangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Meyer Smoked Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese
Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Mainland Tasty Cheddar – Fonterra Brands NZ
Champion Export Cheese Award
Kapiti Kikorangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Champion Yoghurt Award
Clevedon Valley Buffalo Vanilla Bean Yoghurt – Clevedon Valley Buffalo
Champion People’s Choice Cheese Award
Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue – Fonterra Brands NZ
Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Barrys Bay 3 Cheese Selection – Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese
Champion Home Crafted Cheese & Cheesemaker
Mozzarella – Sandra Crone, By The Whey
