Whitestone add medals to long list
Whitestone Cheese have added to their extensive range of awards with a haul of 36 medals, including three golds, at the 2013 New Zealand Champions of Cheese awards.
One of 21 champions to be decided by the 28-strong judging panel - led by Russell Smith, one of Australasia's most respected cheese judges - went to Whitestone's Brie Maxi, a soft white rind cheese.
This cheese won the the Innovative Packaging champion soft rind white rind cheese award.
Gold medals were also awarded to Whitestone's Monte Cristo in the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers champion sheep cheese award; Vintage Windsor Blue in the Fonterra champion original cheese award; and for Lindis Pass in the New Zealand specialist cheesemakers champion export cheese award section.
Whitestone Cheese also secured 16 silver medals, one each in the Goat Feta, Dutch-style and flavoured cheese sections; four each in the soft white rind and export cheese sections; and two each in the blue cheese and original cheese sections.
The company also won 18 bronze medals - six in the export cheese section; five in the soft white rind section; three in the original cheese; two in the goat cheese section; and, one in both the feta and cheese packaging section.
Whitestone Cheese spokesman Simon Berry said he was thrilled with the latest successes.
"A gold for the Lindis Pass cheese is certainly a big thrill," he said.
"These successes are all due to our very hard-working and dedicated staff."
Fifty-nine cheese companies entered 413 cheeses in this year's competition, with the winners announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony in Auckland on Tuesday night.
