Kapiti Championed At Cheese Awards

5 March 2014

Kapiti Championed At Cheese Awards

One of the country’s most beloved cheese brands, Kapiti, has once again come out on top at the annual NZ Champions of Cheese Awards by taking out four champion wins and a big medal haul.

New Zealand’s top cheeses were recognised at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards ceremony and a gala dinner held at The Langham last night.

From the 431 cheeses entered in this year’s competition, judges awarded 16 medals to Kapiti including 4 golds, 5 silvers and 7 bronze medals for a wide range of their cheese across almost all categories.

Kapiti won more champion trophies than any other cheese company in this year’s awards, winning champion trophies for the Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese, New World Champion Favourite Cheese, Kiwi Labels Champion Cheddar, and the Kiwibank Champion Export Cheese.

It was a Kapiti cheese that won the Champion Blue Cheese Award for the second year running. Last year it was the Kapiti Awa Blue that took the top trophy, but this year it was Kapiti Kikorangi’s turn to impress the judges with top marks as Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese. Other outstanding Kapiti blues were also recognised with the Kahurangi winning a gold medal and Awa Blue a silver.

Master Judge Russell Smith was very impressed with Kapiti Kikorangi. “This consistently good blue shows superb even blueing throughout the cheese. Its typical creamy texture is a pleasure in the mouth. The balance in the blue flavour is exceptional and this is complemented by some subtle grassy notes.”

Kikorangi Blue was also the stand out performer for the New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award, voted for by the New Zealand public. Kikorangi has now won the coveted award for three years in a row, establishing its place as New Zealand’s favourite cheese.

Kapiti’s blue cheeses have traditionally been honoured many times at the annual New Zealand Cheese Awards and this year was no exception. Kapiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue was awarded the Kiwibank Champion Export Award; a category that it last won in 2012.

Kapiti Kahurangi is a versatile and creamy cheese with a delicate blue veining. Russell Smith says Kahurangi, “shows superb complex blue flavours which are both rich and piquant. These are complemented by a lovely creamy texture.”

The blues were not the only winners on the night with Kapiti’s Tuteremoana Cheddar being honoured with the Kiwi Labels Champion Cheddar Cheese Award. Named after the highest point on Kapiti Island, Tuteremoana is renowned for its sharp zesty bite. Smith commented, “This is a cheese that you just can’t ignore!”

ENDS

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