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New Zealand's top cheese shows that the
country has a love affair with blue, says an international cheese
expert.
Fonterra Brands NZ's Ferndale Maestro Blue cheese was last night
named as the Taylor's Port Champion of Champions at the Cuisine Champions of
Cheese Awards.
Awards Master Judge, Australian Neil Willman, said when he
tasted Maestro Blue he thought "this is just so close to perfection".
And he said the dominance of blue cheeses - with more blue
cheeses than cheddars entered in this year's Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards
- showed that New Zealanders "have got a love affair with blue".
The quality of New Zealand's blue cheeses reflected that love
affair, he said. "The top blues produced here would be the equal of any in the
world."
Maestro Blue is made in Fonterra Brands NZ's Eltham factory by
Keven (crct) Saywell, who was named Hospitality Magazine Champion
Cheesemaker.
Saywell has worked at the Eltham factory "in several
departments" since 1988, but has been a cheesemaker for only six years. He was
drawn to cheesemaking for the challenge and because "I really, really do like
cheese - I really do …If you tell someone that you make cheese, their eyes light
up. It's always a talking point."
Judges said Maestro was an excellent example of a European style
of cheese that had transitioned into a true Kiwi blue. Aged for six weeks, it
has a rustic feel but a creamy palate.
Outside their class, blue cheeses this year won not only the
Champion of Champions and Champion Cheesemaker awards, but also New Zealand
Trade & Enterprise Champion Export Cheese Award (Kapiti Kikorangi - Fonterra
Brands NZ) and the New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award (also Kapiti
Kikorangi).
The overall quality of entries in this year's awards was
outstanding, said Willman, with 62% of the 406 cheeses winning a gold, silver or
bronze medal. "When I looked at the championship round and saw 60 or so products
that were of gold medal status, or very close to it, I was just blown away," he
said.
"New Zealand produces a great diversity of cheeses which is not
seen in other countries," Willman said. "And the overall standard of the
industry is increasing at a rapid rate."
The fifth annual Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards were
presented at a gala dinner at Auckland's SKYCITY last night. The 20 awards were
given in a range of categories, reflecting different styles of cheese and
different milks used.
More than 400 entries for this year's awards were judged at
Massey University's Albany campus by 26 judges on Sunday.
The other top prize, the Cuisine Champion Artisan Cheese Award,
went to Parvenu, produced by Crescent Dairy Goats, of Albany, north of
Auckland.
Head sponsor of the awards Taylor's Port Brand Manager Antica
Soljan said the increased number of award entries this year was an encouraging
sign for New Zealand.
"Taylor's Port is very proud to sponsor the Champions of Cheese
Awards and congratulates all those involved in producing the Champion of
Champions cheese," she said. "We are proud to honour producers that are
dedicated to crafting top-quality unique products for lovers of fine food."
ENDS
Prepared on behalf of the NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Association
by Goode PR, Auckland. For further information, images or to organise interviews
with the Master Judge, winners or New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers
Association, please contact Petra Milhaljevich on 09 480 9948, 021 509 062 or
email petra@goodepr.co.nz
Editor's Note:
Master Judge Neil Willman
Profile
Australian Master Cheesemaker and Cheese Grader Neil Willman has
been appointed the new Master Judge for the 2008 Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese
Awards. Willman is Australia's only fulltime cheese educator and trainer and
has, for 26 years, been responsible for all the cheese education and training
programmes at Gilbert Chandler College, Australia's only dedicated dairy
college.
He has been an international judge at the World Championship
Cheese Contest and the British Cheese Awards, as well as at previous Cuisine NZ
Champions of Cheese Awards. Willman has also been chief judge at the Australian
Grand Dairy Awards, the Royal Sydney Easter Show, CheeseFest in Adelaide, and
the Dairy Industry Association of Australia National Dairy Product
Competition.
Neil will be in New Zealand until Saturday 8 March and is
available for interviews.
Cuisine NZ Champion Cheese Awards 2008 winners:
**Winners can't be contacted until after the embargo is
lifted.
Winners
Taylor's Port Champion of Champions Award
Ferndale Maestro
Blue - Fonterra Brands NZ
Cuisine Champion Artisan Cheese
Parvenu - Crescent Dairy
Goats
SKYCITY Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Buffalo
Ricotta - Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
NZ Cheese School Champion Feta Cheese Award
Ornelle Chevre
Salade - Puhoi Valley Cheese
Innovative Packaging Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Te Mata
Goats Milk Brie - Te Mata Cheese Co
NZSCA Champion Goat Cheese Award
Parvenu - Crescent Dairy
Goats
Massey University Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Neudorf Ewes
Milk Cheese - Neudorf Dairy
New World Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Kapiti Ramara
- Fonterra Brands NZ
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Ferndale Maestro Blue -
Fonterra Brands NZ
Foodtown Woolworths Champion European Style Cheese
Award
Kapiti NZ Parmesan - Fonterra Brands NZ
Foodtown Woolworths Champion Dutch Style Cheese
Award
Mercer Mature Gouda - Mercer Cheese
NZ Food Safety Authority Champion New Cheese Award
Buffalo
Ricotta - Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company
Fonterra Champion Original Cheese Award
Flat White -
Crescent Dairy Goats
Hally Labels Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Fenugreek
Gouda - Meyer Gouda Cheese
Hally Labels Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Fonterra
Lichfield Cheddar - Fonterra Lichfield
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Champion Export Cheese
Award
Kapiti Kikorangi - Fonterra Brands NZ
New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award
Kapiti Kikorangi
- Fonterra Brands NZ
Curious Design Cheese Packaging Award
Kingsmeade Artisan
Cheese - Kingsmeade
Curds & Whey Champion Hobbyist Cheese
Fresh Goat
Cheese (Coulommier style)
Katherine Mowbray Champion Hobbyist Cheesemaker
Award
Venetia Hill
Hospitality Magazine Champion Cheesemaker
Keven Saywell,
cheesemaker at Fonterra Eltham |
