Two of the Gibbston Valley Cheese Company's signature cheeses have done it proud, winning awards at the 2009 Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards, announced in Auckland last week.
Gibbston Valley Cheese specialises in sheep-, goat- and cow-milk cheeses hand-crafted in the European style.
Owners Kev and Bess Paul entered their two signature cheeses - the Balfour sheep-milk pecorino and Kawarau Blue - and both came away with medals.
The pecorino won a silver medal, while Kawarau Blue received a bronze.
Mrs Paul said the awards were a huge honour.
"We're thrilled that our flagship cheeses are judged as favourably now as they were when our cheesemaker first developed the original recipes nearly 10 years ago.
"It goes to show that great cheese really does stand the test of time."
The Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards are held annually in Auckland to promote New Zealand's growing specialty-cheese industry.
Entries are judged for technical excellence by an international Master of Cheese and a panel of New Zealand cheese experts.
