New Zealand’s Dutch cheesemakers have come up trumps at this year’s Cuisine NZ
Champions of Cheese Awards, with Gouda and Edam varieties taking out the top
two awards.
Meyer Vintage Gouda, produced by Meyer Gouda Cheese, has won the
Yealands Estate Champion of Champions Award for large cheesemakers, and Very
Old Edam from Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese has taken out the Cuisine Champion
Artisan Award for smaller producers. These two supreme awards have equal status
as the most prestigious awards for cheese excellence in New Zealand.
More than 400 cheeses were entered in this year’s competition, with the winners
announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony at The Langham in Auckland.
The 2012 Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards judging was led for the fourth
year running by one of Australasia’s most respected cheese judges, Russell Smith.
He noted New Zealand’s Dutch style cheeses as one of the stand outs in the
specialty cheese industry.
“The calibre of New Zealand’s Dutch style cheeses is always high which can make
them a challenge to judge,” said Smith. “The Mahoe Farmhouse Very Old Edam and
Meyer Vintage Gouda were clear winners for all the judges, illustrating the
extraordinary talent of these young second generation cheesemakers.”
The Cuisine Champion Artisan Award was set up to celebrate cheesemakers that
produce less than 20 tonnes of cheese annually. This year Kerikeri-based Mahoe
Farmhouse Cheese took away the supreme title for its Very Old Edam. Its
cheesemaker, Jacob Rosevear was also awarded the NZ Cheese School Champion
Cheesemaker of the Year award at just 33 years of age.
Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese is a family owned business which was founded in
Kerikeri in 1986 by Jacob’s parents, Anna and Bob Rosevear.
“This was a stand-out winner and a prime example of a beautifully crafted Dutch
cheese,” said Smith. “The intense tropical fruit flavour and the lingering, clean
aftertaste combine with the light crunchy crystals to create an absolute taste
delight.”
Hamilton-based Meyer Gouda Cheese focuses solely on producing world-class
Gouda cheeses and they always perform consistently well at the Cuisine NZ
Champions of Cheese Awards. Miel Meyer is head cheesemaker at Meyer Gouda
Cheese and was crowned Champion Cheesemaker of the Year at last year’s awards.
The Meyer business produces around 60 tonnes of Gouda annually.
“Meyer’s Vintage Gouda is another example of a high quality Gouda which has been
superbly crafted with subtle fruit-driven flavours and savoury overtones, making it a
stunning example of a Dutch style cheese,” added Smith.
A number of the 2011 award-winning cheeses have taken out category trophies for
the second year running. Last year’s Champion of Champions Award winner, Kapiti
Kikorangi confirmed its place as one of New Zealand’s best loved cheeses by
winning the New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award.
“This year, we invited our customers to vote for their favourite cheese and the
Kapiti Kikorangi came out on top,” says Foodstuffs Auckland Senior Marketing
CoordinatorSarah McClennan. “Four out of the top 10 People’s Choice cheeses were
blue varietals, stamping it a firm favourite style for Kiwi consumers.”
Whitestone Vintage Blue and Cheddar produced by Fonterra Edendale were also
winners at the awards for the second year in a row named Ecolab Champion Blue
Cheese and GEON Champion Cheddar Cheese respectively.
This year’s Awards also recognised a well-loved industry personality – Bob Berry from
Whitestone Cheese. The New Zealand Specialist Cheese Association presented him
with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the New
Zealand specialty cheese industry.
Mr Berry founded Whitestone Cheese in 1987. His company and its cheeses have
been consistently recognised as champion cheeses at the Cuisine NZ Champions of
Cheese Awards over the last nine years, and in international competitions.
The 2012 Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards welcomed 430 cheese entries from
36 different companies throughout New Zealand. Entries were judged across 19
different categories and judges awarded gold, silver and bronze medals before
naming a champion for each category
