NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2022
After judging at WINTEC in Hamilton on the last weekend of February, the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) has announced 265 medal winners in the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2022.
More than 380 cheeses from 35 cheese companies were judged by the panel of 35 judges led by Chief Judge Jason Tarrant. Judging resulted in 265 medals being awarded; 84 gold medals, 121 silver medals and 60 bronze medals.
NZ Champions of Cheese 2022 Supreme Awards
Countdown Champion of Champion Cheese Award - Commercial; Open Country Dairy Young Cheddar (Aged less than 6 months)
New World Champion of Champion Cheese Award - Mid-sized; Little River Estate, Little River Mt Richmond
Puhoi Valley Cheese Champion of Champions Cheese Award - Boutique; Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego
MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker; Cathy Lang, Fonterra Co-operative Group
NZ Champions of Cheese 2022 Category Trophies
ECOLAB Champion Blue Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Tetra Pak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Tasty Light - Noble
Sealed Air Champion Bulk Cheddar Cheese Award; Open Country Dairy Young Cheddar (Aged less than 6 months)
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award; Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Vintage Gouda
IXOM Champion European Style Cheese Award; Little River Estate, Little River Mt Richmond
dish magazine Champion Sheep Cheese Award; Geraldine Cheese Company, Sheep Feta
Dominion Salt New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blu
Sabato Champion Farmhouse Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek
Big Chill Distribution Champion Fresh Flavour Added Cheese Award; Over the Moon Dairy, Black Truffle Brie
Sansmart Champion Aged Flavour Added Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda
IFF Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award; Zany Zeus Crème Fraiche
Cheeselinks Champion Fresh Italian Style Cheese Award; Massimo's Italian Cheeses, Burrata
OJI Fibre Solutions Champion Goat Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese, Goats Milk Gouda
Kiwi Labels Champion Greek/Cypriot Cheese Award; Waimata Cheese, Waimata Chilli Haloumi
Wintec Champion New Cheese Award; Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award; Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Five Forks
CHR Hansen Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Akatea Traditional Brie (small)
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Rarama Washed Rind
The NZ Champions of Cheese 2022 Special Awards
Countdown Sustainability Award; Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay
Good George Brewery Innovation Award; Belle Chèvre Creamery Raspberry Bonbons
New World Cheese Lovers’ Choice; Puhoi Valley Camembert
Rutherford & Meyer Chef’s Choice Award; Mount Eliza Cheese, Blue Monkey
Curds & Whey Champion Homecrafted Cheese & Cheesemaker; St Peter's College, SPC Blue
NZSCA Champion Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Cultured Butter Edgecumbe
Countdown Champion Yoghurt Award; Clevedon Buffalo Vanilla Bean Yoghurt
Sealed Air Bulk or Large Block Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Extra Tasty Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Epicure
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Mild Organic Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Vintage
Open Country Dairy, Mature Cheddar - Aged Less Than 12 months
Open Country Dairy, Young Cheddar - Aged less than 6 months
Open Country Dairy, Classic Vintage Cheddar
SABATO Farmhouse Cheese
Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Rarama Washed Rind
Big Chill Distribution Fresh Flavour Added Cheeses
Belle Chèvre Creamery, Raspberry Bonbons
Meyer Cheese, Garlic & Chives
Over the Moon Dairy, Black Truffle Brie
The Cheese Barn, Boursin - Garden Herbs
SanSmart Aged Flavour Added Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Havarti Smoked
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Gibbston Valley Smokey Gold
Karikaas, Karikaas Pepper
Over the Moon Dairy, Burgundy Moon
Meyer Cheese, Aged Smoked Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek
OJI Fibre Solutions Goat Milk Cheese
Cartwheel Creamery, Opiki Ma
Meyer Cheese, Goat’s Milk Gouda
The Drunken Nanny, Black Tie
dish Sheep Milk Cheese
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego
Geraldine Cheese Co, Sheep Feta
Dominion Salt Export Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Havarti Smoked
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakari Aged Cheddar
Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker & Cheese
Dianne Anderson, Pine Ash Bloomy Rind
St Peter’s College, SPC Blue
Countdown Yoghurt
Clevedon Buffalo, Vanilla Bean Yoghurt
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Natural Yoghurt
One Sheep Two Sheep BaaBuzz
Thorvald, Sheep Milk Yoghurt
NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Association Butter
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Cultured Butter Edgecumbe
Westland Milk Products, Westgold Salted Butter
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Mainland Buttersoft Reduced Salt
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Salted Butter Kauri
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Salted Organic Butter Morrinsville
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Unsalted Butter Whareroa
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Garlic & Parsley Butter
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Kāpiti Awa Tangy Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Five Forks
Whitestone Cheese Co, Drunken Windsor Blue
Ecolab Blue Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
Mt Eliza Cheese, Blue Monkey
Wintec New Cheese
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego
CHR Hansen Soft Ripened Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Akatea Traditional Brie (small)
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Akatea Traditional Brie (large)
Kiwi Labels Greek/Cypriot Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Feta
Over the Moon Dairy, Buffalo Halloumi
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Cow Feta
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley UF Basil Pesto Feta
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Chilli Haloumi
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Classic Feta
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Mozzarella
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Burrata
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Cherry Bocconcini
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Mozzarella
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Mozzarella
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Ricotta
IFF/Danisco Fresh Unripened Cheese
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Crème Fraiche
AsureQuality Dutch Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Aged Cumin Gouda
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Gouda
Karikaas, Karikaas Vintage Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Very Old Edam
Mahoe Cheese, Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Cumin Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Tasty Gouda
IXOM European Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Rinded Cheshire
Geraldine Cheese Co, Parmesan
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, Hōhepa Danbo
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, Hōhepa Vintage
Little River Estate, Little River Mt Richmond
Mahoe Cheese, Montbeliarde
Meyer Cheese, Maasdam
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Tasty Light (Noble)
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Smoked Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakari Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Fonterra, NZMP Egmont
Geraldine Cheese Co, Deer
Karikaas, Pumahana
Karikass, Vegetarian Cumin
Over the Moon Dairy, Three Sisters
Ecolab Blue Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Baby Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
Geraldine Cheese Co, Mt Peel Blue
Geraldine Cheese Co, Waihi Blue
Little River Estate, Little River Tasman Blue
Over the Moon Dairy, Buffalo-Cow Blue
Over the Moon Dairy, Creamy Blue
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Pakiri Beach Blue
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Creamy Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Windsor Blue
Wintec New Cheese
No silver medals awarded
CHR Hansen Soft Ripened Cheese
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Grinning Gecko Brie
Grinning Gecko Cheese, Grinning Gecko Camembert
Puhoi Valley Cheese, Puhoi Valley Double Cream Brie
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Traditional Camembert
Whitestone Cheese Co, Benmore Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Mount Domett Double Cream Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Probiotic Camembert
Kiwi Labels Greek/Cypriot Style Cheese
Cartwheel Creamery, Cartwheel Creamery Original Halloumi
Geraldine Cheese Co, Haloumi
Little River Estate, Little River Halloumi
Waimata Cheese, Longbush Traditional Haloumi
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Traditional Haloumi
Whitestone Cheese Co, Ferry Road Halloumi
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Bocconcini
Clevedon Buffalo, Buffalo Cherry Mozzarella
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Mozzarella (40% FDM)
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Caciocavallo
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Ricotta
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Stracciatella
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Burrata
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Stracciatella di Burrata
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Mascarpone
IFF/Danisco Fresh Unripened Cheese
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Easy Mix Cream Cheese Darfield
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Cream Cheese Darfield
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Cream Cheese Te Rapa
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Cream Cheese
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Paneer
AsureQuality Dutch Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Aged Gouda
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Chilli Gouda
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kakato Gouda
Kārikass, Karikaas Cumin/Leyden
Kārikass, Karikaas Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Mild Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Cumin Gouda
Mahoe Cheese, Edam
IXOM European Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Havarti
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Maasdam
Cartwheel Creamery, Cartwheel Creamery Epitome Truffle
Cranky Goat, Mooody Cow Old Tomme
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, Hōhepa Aged Danbo
Talbot Forrest Cheese Co, Talbot Forest Parmesan
Whitestone Cheese Co, Creamy Havarti
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Coldsmoked Appletree Cheddar
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Coldsmoked Pohutukawa Red
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Smoke
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakari Blackcurrant Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakari Smoked Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Tasty
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Gibbston Gold
Sealed Air Bulk or Large Block Cheddar
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Mature Rinded Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Mature Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Mild Cheddar
Open Country Dairy, Aged Cheddar - Aged over 18 months
Open Country Dairy, Colby
Open Country Dairy, Mild Cheddar
Open Country Dairy, Mature Cheddar - Aged up to 19 months
SABATO Farmhouse Cheese
Meyer Cheese, Vintage Cumin
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Cartwheel Creamery, Coppermine
Over the Moon Dairy Co, Galactic Gold
Big Chill Distribution Fresh Flavour Added Cheeses
Anabelle’s Fine Fresh Cheeses, Garlic and Herb Bouchees
Belle Chèvre Creamery, Porcini Goat Cheese Pâté
Clevedon Buffalo, Thyme & Garlic Marinated
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kirīmi Chilli & Garlic Triple Cream Cheese
Grinning Gecko Cheese Co, Reka Rawa Truffle Brie
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, Hōhepa Herb Quark
Meyer Cheese, Italian Herb
Talbot Forrest Cheese Co, Talbot Forrest Chilli Havarti
SanSmart Aged Flavour Added Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Paprika Havarti
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Peppered Havarti
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Smoked Rinded Cheddar
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, Hōhepa Fenugreek
Meyer Cheese, Cracked Pepper
OJI Fibre Solutions Goat Milk Cheese
Anabelle Fine Fresh Cheeses, Goat Fromage Blanc
Belle Chèvre Creamery, Betta than Feta
Belle Chèvre Creamery, Picnic at the Cove
Cartwheel Creamery, Phoenix
Cranky Goat, Cranky Goat Old Tomme
Geraldine Cheese Co, Goat Parmesan
The Cheese Barn, Little Goat Machego
The Drunken Nanny, Black Tie Petite
The Drunken Nanny, Fresh Lush
Over the Moon Dairy Goat Feta
dish Sheep Milk Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Sheep Milk Pecorino
Geraldine Cheese Co, Sheep Gouda
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Gibbston Valley Brinza Sheep Milk
Gibbston Valley Cheese, Gibbston Valley New Balfour
Meyer Cheese, Sheep Milk Gouda
Over the Moon Dairy, Sheep Blue
Thorvald, Thorvald Feta
Thorvald, Camembert
Thorvald, Devotion
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Pecorino
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Sheep Camembert
Dominion Salt Export Cheese
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakari Blackcurrant Aged Cheddar
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker & Cheese
No Silver medals awarded
Countdown Yoghurt
One Sheep Two Sheep Baa2
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Greek Yoghurt
NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Association Butter
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Cultured Butter Kauri
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Cultured Butter Whareroa
Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Salted Butter Morrinsville
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Creamery Lightly Salted Butter
Westland Milk Products, Westgold Unsalted Butter
Fonterra Co-operative Group Original Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Co, Barker’s Kiwi Tomato
Open Country Dairy, Kahui
Whitestone Cheese Co, Aged Airedale
Whitestone Cheese Co, Livingstone Gold
Ecolab Blue Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Peninsula Blue
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Rinded Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Windsor Blue
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Blended Blue
Wintec New Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Co, Kiwi Kawakawa
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Blended Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Oamaru Blue
Via Vio Cheese, ViaVio Peppercorn Caciotta
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Blended Blue
CHR Hansen Soft Ripened Cheese
Cartwheel Creamery, Marama
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Special Reserve Double Cream Brie
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Blended Brie
Kiwi Labels Greek/Cypriot Style Cheese
Geraldine Cheese, Basil Haloumi
Geraldine Cheese, Chilli Haloumi
Grinning Gecko Cheese Co, Grinning Gecko Halloumi
Zany Zeus, Zany Zeus Creamy Feta
Cheeselinks Fresh Italian Style Cheese
Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay, Hōhepa Mozzarella
Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Mozzarella
ViaVio Cheese, ViaVio Stracchino
IFF/Danisco Fresh Unripened Cheese
No bronze medals awarded
AsureQuality Dutch Style Cheese
Mahoe Cheese, Mature Edam
Mahoe Cheese, Mature Gouda
IXOM European Style Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Cheshire
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Parmesan
Cartwheel Creamery, Cartwheel Creamery Epitome Beer Washed
Geraldine Cheese Co, Havarti
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kānuka Havarti
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kowhai Gruyere
Karikaas, Karikaas Maasdam
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Parmesan
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Swiss
Talbot Forrest Cheese Co, Talbot Forest Gruyere
Talbot Forrest Cheese Co, Talbot Forest Peppered Havarti
Tetra Pak Retail Cheddar Cheese
Barrys Bay Cheese, Barrys Bay Onawe Aged Cheddar
Sealed Air Bulk or Large Block Cheddar
Fonterra Co-operative Group, NZMP Noble
Open Country Dairy, Kahui
SABATO Farmhouse Cheese
Raggedy Range, Fenugreek Mix
Raggedy Range, Pecorino
Thermaflo Washed Rind
Little River Estate, Little River Wildfire
Big Chill Distribution Fresh Flavour Added Cheeses
Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kirīmi Herb & Garlic Triple Cream Cheese
Talbot Forrest Cheese Co, Talbot Forrest Cumin Gouda
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Cracked Pepper Haloumi
SanSmart Aged Flavour Added Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Co, Kiwi Kawakawa
OJI Fibre Solutions Goat Milk Cheese
Geraldine Cheese Co, Goat Gouda
Meyer Cheese, Vintage Goat's Milk
dish Sheep Milk Cheese
Craggy Range Sheep Dairy Te Mata Blue
Thorvald, Thorvald Blue Vein
Waimata Cheese, Waimata Sheep Feta
Dominion Salt Export Cheese
Open Country Dairy, Export Cheddar
Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker & Cheese
Dianne Anderson, Haloumi
Emily Goodman, Vermouth Washed Rind
St Peter’s College, SPC Camembert
Countdown Yoghurt
Little River Estate, Little River Natural Greek Yoghurt
NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Association Butter
Lewis Road Creamery, Lewis Road Unsalted Butter