The New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) has announced entries are open for its annual Champions of Cheese Awards.
The Specialist Cheesemakers Association has run the awards since 2003, and will host their 15th annual NZSCA Gala Cocktail Awards Evening in Auckland at Fale Pasifika on 15 March 2018. For the first time the awards are being organised by specialist food marketing communications company Marvellous Marketing.
New Zealand Speciality Cheesemakers Association chair, Miel Meyer says cheesemakers will notice some innovations with this year’s awards.
“To make it easier for cheesemakers we have moved entry online through the NZSCA website. We have introduced a new Farmhouse Cheese category, to recognise cheesemakers who produce milk and make their own cheese onsite. Finally, we have changed the format of the awards from a formal dinner to a gala cocktail event to allow cheesemakers and our award sponsors more opportunities to network and catch up.”
The NZSCA Board has decided to review judging the butter and yoghurt categories and therefore will not judge these in 2018 while they consider the future for these categories.
“We are delighted Master Judge Russell Smith of Australia will join us again for what will be his final year overseeing the Champions of Cheese Awards. Additionally, we have the services of NZSCA life member Ross McCullum and American cheese specialist and editor and owner of Culture magazine Lassa Skinner in senior judging roles,” he said.
Miel made special mention of the loyal family of sponsors who once again joined the NZSCA to ensure this celebration of New Zealand cheese occurs. Countdown will again be the lead sponsor of the NZSCA Gala Cocktail Awards Evening.
DIARY DATES
Entries open now at https://nzsca.org.nz/enter-now/
Entries close – Friday 19 January 2018
Cheese received in Auckland – Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 February 2018
Judging – Saturday 24 February 2018
Awards Presentation and NZSCA Gala Cocktail Awards Evening – Thursday 15 March 2018
CATEGORIES 2018
Countdown Champion of Champions Cheese Award (Commercial)
Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions Cheese Award (Artisan)
New World Cheese Lovers’ Choice Award (Favourite Cheese and Cheese Company)
Milk Test NZ Champion Cheesemaker Award
Green Valley Dairies Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Kiwi Labels Champion Feta Cheese Award
CHR Hansen Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
180 degrees Champion Goat Cheese Award
Sheep Milk NZ Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Eurofins NZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Ministry for Primary Industries Champion New Cheese Award
Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award
Tetra Pak Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Emerson’s Farmhouse Cheese Category
Foley Family Wines Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Renco NZ Ltd Champion Export Cheese Award
AUT School of Hospitality and Tourism Aspiring Cheesemaker
Cas-Pak Products Ltd Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheese & Cheesemaker
