Australia’s top dairy products announced

Posted by AFN Staff Writers on 30th November 2016

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

 

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