Australia’s top dairy products announced

After tasting their way through a record 470 of Australia’s finest dairy products, judges of Dairy Australia’s Grand Dairy Awards have announced the 2017 finalists from across the nation.
This year, 56 producers of cheese, ice cream, milk, yoghurts, dips, gelatos and more have made it to the big stage in the grand final of dairy awards and now wait with baited breath until February 2017 when the champions will be announced.
For the first time, the public also have the chance to play judge to determine the champion cheese of the new People’s Choice Award.
The Awards, now in their 18th year, celebrate the best of the best in Australian Dairy, recognising quality, excellence and the refined skills of local Australian producers who craft some of the best dairy product in the world.
All products, which qualified for awards by winning gold medal at state competitions, are put through a rigorous, two-day, judging process.
Leading a panel of 24 judges, technical experts, chefs, retailers and flavour specialists, was respected dairy educator, Russell Smith, and recently appointed deputy chief judge, Mark Livermore. Author and food personality, Alice Zaslavsky also joined the panel for a second year running.
From bries to screams, 2017’s finalists feature producers big and small, including supermarket favourites to new-to-the-market, artisan products.
“We’re thrilled to announce the impressive line-up of 2017 finalists and pay recognition to the talented Australians who dedicate their time, passion and skill to producing high quality dairy foods for Australia and the rest of the world to enjoy,” said Amanda Menegazzo, convener of the Australian Grand Dairy Awards.
“The calibre keeps improving year after year. We are rapt to see such a mix between old and new faces for 2017 – from established brands such as Bega Cheese, to new-comers like family owned Little Big Dairy,” said Menegazzo.
Out of the finalists, a winner will be chosen for each dairy category and the highest scoring dairy and cheese products will be crowned as the Grand Champions.
2017 Australian Grand Dairy Awards Finalists
Category | Product | Producer |
Fresh Unripened Cheese | Montefiore Trecce | Montefiore Cheese Australia |
That’s Amore Cheese Burrata | That’s Amore Cheese | |
La Vera Pure Whey Ricotta | La Vera Fine Cheese Producers | |
White Mould | King Island Dairy Black Label Double Brie | Lion Dairy & Drinks-King Island |
Emporium Triple Cream Brie | Lactalis Group | |
Nowra Farmhouse Triple Cream Brie | Unicorn Cheese | |
Semi Hard & Eye | Section28 Artisan Cheese Monforte | Section28 Artisan Cheese |
Heidi Farm Tilsit | Lion Dairy & Drinks-Burnie | |
Heidi Farm Raclette | Lion Dairy & Drinks-Burnie | |
Cheddar | Bay of Fires Cheddar | Fowlers Cheese |
Bega Strong & Bitey Cheddar | Bega Cheese Limited | |
Westacre Extra Tasty Cheddar | Bega Cheese Limited | |
Hard Cheese | Ashgrove Signature Parmesan | Ashgrove Cheese |
La Vera Matured Pecorino | La Vera Fine Cheese Producers | |
Mil Lel Superior Parmesan Cheese | Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Company Holdings Ltd (Warrnambool) | |
Blue Cheese | King Island Dairy Roaring Forties Blue | Lion Dairy & Drinks-King Island |
King Island Dairy Bass Strait Blue | Lion Dairy & Drinks-King Island | |
Berrys Creek Oak Blue | Berrys Creek Cheese | |
Washed Rind/Mixed Rind | Emporium Selection Washed Rind | Unicorn Cheese |
Flinders Estate Washed Rind | Unicorn Cheese | |
King Island Dairy Stormy Washed Rind | Lion Dairy & Drinks-King Island | |
Flavoured Cheese | That’s Amore Cheese Diavoletti | That’s Amore Cheese |
Barambah Organics Labna with Fennel and Sea Salt | Barambah Organics Pty Ltd | |
King Island Dairy Stokes Point Smoked Cheddar | Lion Dairy & Drinks-King Island | |
Goats & Sheep’s Milk Cheese | Frolicking Goat Buche | Frolicking Goat |
Meredith Dairy Plain Chevre | Meredith Dairy Pty Ltd | |
Prom Country Cheese Venus Blue | Prom Country Cheese | |
Natural Yoghurt | Mundella Greek Natural Yoghurt | Mundella Foods Pty Ltd |
Mundella Premium Natural Yoghurt | Mundella Foods Pty Ltd | |
Ruby and Roy’s Natural No Added Sugar Yoghurt
|
The Fabulous Fresh Bros. Pty Ltd | |
Flavoured Yoghurt | Sharma’s Kitchen Mango Lassi | Sharma’s Kitchen Pty Ltd |
Maleny Gourmet Yoghurt Apple & Cinnamon | Maleny Cheese | |
George’s Authentic Greek Yoghurt Apple & Cinnamon | The Natural Yoghurt Company | |
Ice Cream | Dooley’s Premium Licorice Ice Cream | Dooley’s Ice Cream |
Dooley’s Premium Chocolate Ice Cream | Dooley’s Ice Cream | |
Timboon Fine Ice Cream Vanilla | Timboon Fine Ice Cream | |
Dairy Gelato | Maleny Food Co. Chocolate Gelato | Maleny Food Co. |
Cow and the Moon Peanutzilla Gelato | Cow and the Moon | |
Milani House of Gelato Dark Chocolate | Milani House of Gelato | |
Dairy Dessert | House of Riz Traditional Greek Rice Pudding | House of Riz |
House of Riz Passionfruit Rice Pudding | House of Riz | |
Pauls Milk Max Dairy Snack Chocolate | Parmalat Australia Ltd-South Brisbane | |
Milk | Maleny Dairies Farmers Choice Full Cream Milk | Maleny Dairies |
Norco Non-Homogenised Milk | Norco Foods-Labrador | |
Alexandrina Pure Jersey Full Cream Milk | Alexandrina Cheese Company | |
Specialty White Dairy Drink | The Little Big Dairy Co Less Cream Milk | The Little Big Dairy Company |
Misty Mountain Farms Lactose Free Full Cream Jersey Milk | Mungalli Creek Dairy | |
Dairy Farmers 2% New Milk | Lion Dairy & Drinks-Malanda | |
Flavoured Dairy Drink | Oak Chocolate | Parmalat Australia Ltd-Nambour |
Norco Ultimate Chocolate | Norco Foods-Raleigh | |
Dare Double Espresso | Lion Dairy & Drinks-Malanda | |
Cream | Bannister Downs Double Cream | Bannister Downs Dairy Company |
Bulla Crème Fraiche | Bulla Dairy Foods Pty Ltd | |
The Little Big Dairy Co Pure Double Cream | The Little Big Dairy Company | |
Butter | Western Star Salted Butter | Fonterra Brands (Aust) Pty Ltd-Cobden |
Aldi Beautifully Butterfully Salted Butter | Murray Goulburn-Koroit | |
Aldi Beautifully Butterfully Salted Butter | Fonterra Brands (Aust) Pty Ltd-Cobden | |
Dairy Dip | Paradise Beach Purveyors Pesto Swirl Dip | Paradise Beach Purveyors Pty Ltd |
Paradise Beach Purveyors Instant Nachos Dip | Paradise Beach Purveyors Pty Ltd | |
Bekaa Dairy Labneh | Bekaa Dairy Products & Ultimate Dairies |
Related articles
Little Big Dairy Co takes home multiple medals from NSW dairy competition
Bulla takes out top spot at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards
Australian Grand Dairy award winners announced
Food companies win at 2016 Telstra Business Awards
Choc Top enthusiasts rejoice, Bulla Dairy Foods (Bulla) is partnering with Coles supermarkets (Cole...
This year’s finalists for the South Australian Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards have bee...
A draft report released by the Australian Productivity Commission is calling for better management o...
The pinnacle of Australian beef was on show at Hog’s this past week when it hosted the Australian Wa...
As native flavours grow in popularity in Australia, lemon myrtle and specifically lemon myrtle tea ...
Walmart U.S.'s CEO, Greg Foran, who has played a key leadership role in reinventing Walmart's store...
In the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Australian consumers have ensured their pantries...
Product of the Year (POY), the world’s largest consumer voted awards have officially commenced thei...