A sheep milk cheddar has taken out the top prize at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards this year.
“Complex, waxy, balanced with a beautiful ivory paste. Delicious. Favourite of the day,” judges said about the about the Whitestone Cheese Co’s winner.
The sheep milk cheddar also bagged two other awards – best original cheese and best-in-class.
Oamaru-based Pukaki’s blue brie was named best new cheese and one of their cheesemakers, Jonathan Emerson, was named champion cheesemaker.
Waikato-based Meyer Cheese took home five trophies, including three for their cheese (Maasdam cheese, smoked gouda, and fenugreek) and one for assistant cheesemaker Jarvis Whyte. They were also named a sustainability champion.
Barrys Bay Cheese’s “chewy, fudgy” aged gouda earned two awards. The Akaroa-based dairy company, which celebrated 125 years of cheesemaking in 2020, took home four awards, including for their Canterbury red and parmesan.
Fonterra secured four awards for their NZMP brand’s traditional cream cheese as well as their Kāpiti brand’s kikorangi triple cream blue, artisan ash rind white, and Pakiri blackcurrant cheddar.
Boutique producer Anabelle Exquisite Dairy’s cremeux herb and garlic received two awards, with judges praising its smooth taste and balance of flavours.
Master judge Jason Tarrant led a jury of 30 judges who tasted 240 locally produced cheeses in early March to decide this year’s winners. Eighteen of the 24 trophies were awarded to independent producers, including Zany Zeus, Belle Chevre Creamery, and Over the Moon Dairy.
NZ Champions of Cheese 2025
Woolworths Champion of Champions (Commercial) Whitestone Cheese Co, Monte Cristo
FSQSNZ Champion of Champions (Mid-Sized) Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Gouda
Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions (Boutique) Anabelle Exquisite Dairy, Cremeux Herb & Garlic
MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker Jonathan Emerson, Whitestone Cheese Co
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Whitestone Cheese Co, Monte Cristo,
ECOLAB Champion Blue Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
FOSS Champion New Cheese Whitestone Cheese Co, Pukaki Blue Brie
Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Artisan Ash Rind White, Novonesis
Cheeselinks Champion Greek-Style or Danish-Style Cheese Puhoi Valley Cheese, Cow’s Milk Feta
dish Champion Fresh Italian-Style Cheese Zany Zeus, Italian Style Ricotta,
WINTEC Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Fonterra Co-Operative Group, NZMP Traditional Cream Cheese
AsureQuality Champion Dutch-Style Cheese Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Gouda
IXOM Champion European-Style Cheese Meyer Cheese, Maasdam
IFF Champion Farmhouse Cheese Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Over the Moon Dairy, Galactic Gold
FSQSNZ Champion Aged Flavour Added Cheese Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek
Big Chill Distribution Champion Fresh Flavour Added Cheese Anabelle Exquisite Dairy, Cremeux Herb & Garlic
Tetra Pak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Canterbury Red
Sealed Air Champion Bulk Cheddar Cheese Open Country, Ched M (Matured Cheddar)
OJI Fibre Solutions Best-in-Class Goats Milk Cheese Belle Chevre Creamery, Marinated Goat Cheese
Maui Sheep Milk Best-in-Class Sheep Milk Cheese Whitestone Cheese Co, Monte Cristo
Hill Labs Best-in-Class Buffalo Milk Cheese Over the Moon Dairy, Creamy Blue
Dominion Salt Champion Export Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakiri Blackcurrant Cheddar
NZ Champions of Cheese 2025 Special Awards
Woolworths Sustainability Award Meyer Cheese
Sabato Chefs’ Choice Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Parmesan
Innovative Packaging Aspiring Cheesemaker Jarvis Whyte, Meyer Cheese
Curds & Whey Amateur Cheesemaker St Peter’s College, Baby Blue
rnz.co.nz