Cheese winners pleased but getting squeezed

CHOICE: Richard Williams and Joanie Williams, owners of Origin Earth, celebrate their latest cheese awards. PHOTO DUNCAN BROWN

Two Hawke's Bay cheese makers have won a bag of medals at the 2017 New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards.

Origin Earth secured four medals: A gold was won for their Halloumi, a silver for their Pink & White Terraces and a bronze each for both their Pecorino, smoked Halloumi and Sleeping Giant.

Hohepa Homes primarily sell their surplus cheese at the farm gate and local farmers' market, but following the rigorous weekend of judging they have come out with a gold an bronze medal. Gold was awarded for their Vintage and bronze for their Tasty cheese.

Hohepa Hawke's Bay general manager Andy White said he was thrilled at the result and proud of the cheese makers again winning awards from the Clive bio-dynamic farm's dairy herd.

Cheese making was originally a sideline but was becoming more important as it became more important, both financially and because it enabled real jobs for the people at Hohepa Homes.

Origin Earth director Richard Williams said the 5-year-old company was very pleased to win again.

Now in its 14th year, the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards are held annually by the NZ Specialist Cheese Association, to honour excellence in cheese making.

New Zealand's best cheeses were judged by 34 international and national cheese experts, from more than 370 entries.

Mr Williams said the large number of entries from large dairy companies in this year's awards reflected the influence small producers had on the rising quality of New Zealand cheese.

"The big guys have upped their game," he said.

"This is exactly the same process that put the New Zealand wine industry on the world wine stage when small producers started taking out awards."

The increase in quality was good for the New Zealand cheese industry and small producers should not feel threatened by well-resourced blanket competition, he said.

"There is still a place for single-farm origin high-quality cheeses."

The 21 category winners were announced at a gala dinner at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards in Auckland this week following a two-day cheese competition.

Master Judge and Australian cheese guru Russell Smith, said Dutch Kiwis had a growing reputation for making "inspirational cheeses" with New Zealand milks.

"The 2017 champions are great examples of this expertise," he said.

"The Smoked Goat Gouda by Meyer Gouda Cheese is an absolutely gorgeous goat cheese, and a pleasure to eat," he said of the Countdown Champion of Champions (Commercial) cheese winner.