Oamaru’s Whitestone collected 18 and Gibbston Valley Cheese five of the 199 cheeses awarded bronze, silver or gold medals.
The awards which were judged in Hamilton early last month aim to highlight quality and innovation in the local cheese industry. They are judged by 30 industry specialists led by master judge Jason Tarrant. The team tasted and evaluated 240 New Zealand-made cheeses.
"It was pleasing to see a nearly 10% increase in total entries over the previous year. With a significant 50% lift in the number of flavoured cheeses entered for assessment and double the number in the blue cheese, export cheese and Greek or Danish-style cheese categories."
Whitestone was awarded six golds for their Highland Blue, Ferry Road Halloumi, Monte Cristo, Benmore Brie and their new cheese Pukaki Blue Brie which the judges described as a "lovely custardy cheese and a mild blue flavour — you nailed it".
It also won eight silvers, four of those for its bries and two bronzes both for camemberts.
Gibbston Valley received one gold for its Smokey Gold which judges described as "well-balanced" with a "good level of smokiness. Super!".
They also won a silver for its Chilli Havarti and bronzes for its Kawarau Blue, Gibbston Gold and New Balfour.
The highest scoring gold medal cheeses are in contention to be named as champions at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2025 gala dinner in Hamilton on May 1. — APL
