(Birchs Bay, February 18th) Grandvewe Cheeses’ signature cheese Sapphire Blue wins the Champion Cheese of Show in the Sydney Royal Show 2012 in a lineup of over 350 of Australia’s best cheeses.
Sapphire Blue is the signature cheese of Grandvewe Cheeses – a small sheep cheese farm in southern Tasmania. Made using the famous Penicillium Roqueforti, and released between 3 & 4 months of age it is a distinct and sometimes unusually flavoured blue with an underlying ewe’s milk derived sweetness. At times this cheese show hints of smoked meat on the finish –a characteristic of small amounts of brevi.
Sapphire Blue is made from 100 percent sheep milk and using traditional Roquefort techniques.
“We are very excited about this award. Whilst we have won many awards for our cheeses in the past, and gold and silver awards for our Blue cheeses, to win the best cheese in the Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Awards is mind blowing for us, considering that we are a very small farm based Cheesery and competing with the big boys!”, said Diane Rae, the head cheese maker.
“My daughter and I were fortunate to work with famous Roquefort icon – Jacques Carles – about 4 years ago. When we returned we started “tweaking” our blue cheese making style to emulate Jacques techniques.” said Diane Rae.
The Royal Sydney Cheese and Dairy Awards is one of the highest agricultural award in Australia and it has the most experienced judging panel. RAS Dairy Produce Committee Chair Gerry Andersen welcomes third-generation French affineur Hervé
Mons as the international judge for the Cheese and Dairy Produce Show.
“Monsieur Hervé Mons is a very talented and highly-respected personality in the cheese world,” Mr Andersen said.
“Mons has been awarded the ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ – Best Artisan of France, the highest recognition one can achieve in the field of affinage.”
Grandvewe Cheeses has participated the award every year. “As sheep cheese is relatively rare in Australia, quality judging is very important and we believe that the Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Awards have the best panel available. ”,said Diane Rae.
About Grandvewe Cheeses
Grandvewe Cheeses is Tasmania’s only Sheep Milk Cheesery, where you can taste up to 15 EWEnique cheeses and enjoy wine while viewing the whole process of cheese making and maturing. Grandvewe also offers wonderful homemade gourmet delights to take home and enjoy with your cheese.
Grandvewe is 30 minutes south of Hobart and opens 7 days from 10 am to 5pm, 7 days/week excluding Christmas Day. Visitor can also enjoy our sheep milking demonstration (3 pm daily in season) and children are welcome to feed and pat our lambs during summer.
About Sydney Royal Show
Sydney Royal is the brand name for the competitive events that the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW organises every year.
They are designed to select, reward and applaud the tastiest and finest agricultural products including cheeses, honeys, alpacas, wines, coffees and olive oils etc.
Diane Rae, Ryan Hartshorn www.grandvewe.com.au 59 Devlyns Road Birchs Bay TAS 7162
