A gouda cheese made by a Waikato family-owned cheese company took the top honours at the annual New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards.
Meyer Cheese Goats Milk Gouda was named Countdown Champion of Champion at the cheese awards in Hamilton, a win that general manager of Meyer Cheese, Miel Meyer, said the family was extremely happy about.
"It was just another incredible feeling for us to come out with the award," Miel said.
"It was my brother Geert who took out the top award. I don't tend to touch cheese too much these days after working with it for so long. I just do this stuff and promote it so full credit to the rest of the family."
Miel said the move to use goats' milk was mainly down to demand, saying New Zealanders' food tastes are changing.