South African participants had plenty to smile about at the World Cheese Awards recently held in Dublin, Ireland.
G K Chesterton once remarked, sagely, "The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese".
Those poets should have been at this year's World Cheese Awards to sample some of the fine South African fromages that wowed the 140 judges - they would have been inspired!
Of the 2 400 cheeses submitted by international cheese makers, 54 were from South Africa. Our fab fromage professionals walked away with an impressive 14 awards including the only gold to be presented for a Camembert.
Other awards include another 4 golds, 5 silvers and 4 bronzes. The 50 Irish and 90 International judges waxed lyrical about the delectable dairy delights our kaaskoppe had on offer.
An interesting aside – Kobus Mulder from Agri Expo – a leading cheese expert – has held the export license (issued by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II, no less) for bringing cheeses to Ireland each year for this event. The license stipulates that once the judging is over the cheeses have to be incinerated. What a waste!
South Africa’s Winning Cheeses are:
Gold
Fairview’s Roydon Camembert (The only camembert to win an award)
Clover’s Medium Block Cheddar
Clover’s Extra Mature Cheddar
Dalewood Fromage’s Huguenot
Clover’s Mascarpone Cheese
Silver
Simonsberg’s Creamy Blue
Fairview’s Blue Tower
Foxenburg Estate’s Foxtail
Lourensford Estate’s Healey’s Gold
Kimilili Farm’s Witzenberger
Bronze
Gay’s Dairy’s Prince Albert Royal*
Lancewood’s Superior Cream Cheese
Lancewood’s Plain Chunky Cottage Cheese
Fairview’s Camembert 40% reduced fat
*Gay's Dairy in the charming town of Prince Albert offers fascinating tours of the farm.
Are you a cheese lover? Fancy a getaway in the Western Cape where wine and cheese, that perfectly matched combination, are both found in abundance? Portfolio Collection offers delightful accommodation in the Cape Winelands and along Route 62.
Contact our Online Reservations team for more information.
(Small image: cwbuecheler http://flickr.com/photos/cuse/1452518357/ some rights reserved)
