MEET YOUR {OUTSTANDING} MAKER, NIEUWENHUIS FARMSTEAD CHEESE

After only two years of commercial cheesemaking Annie and Geoff Nieuwenhuis were recognised with two Outstanding NZ Food Producer Silver Medals in 2020. This year they triumphed again being named Emerson’s Dairy Champion for Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese, Marinated Cloud, Fresh Goat Cheese in Oil. Here’s their story…

While they have only been making and selling their delicious farmhouse goat cheese since 2018, Annie and Geoff Nieuwenhuis’ venture dates back to 2006, when Annie had an idea.

From that time until now, they have bought two farm blocks, taken their family of five children on a year-long tour of North America, moved house and in 2010 undertook an extensive goat cheese study tour through France and Portugal – all the while with plan to become goat cheesemakers.

For Annie and Geoff, Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese has surpassed their dream. The pair work together each day and sometimes their children join in too. Annie explains making cheese on their farm is the perfect blend of science and art, which is apt for the couple who met when studying science at Massey University.

Geoff takes responsibility for looking after the goats and receives help milking from Annie and their children. Annie takes primarily responsibility for cheesemaking but couldn’t do it without help from Geoff. Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese recipes are based on traditional European techniques that they learnt on their grand tour in 2010. Before starting to sell cheese in 2018 they spent years carefully crafting unique methods to better suit our fresh New Zealand goat’s milk.

Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese cheeses include; fresh, ripened and hard varieties. Their cheeses share familiar characteristics to some of the classics: Gouda, Feta, Halloumi, Brie and Chèvre. However, their cheese names reflect the unique place where their cheese is from. Look out for fresh cheeses such as; Cloud, Full Moon, Moonstone and Harvest Moon, Te Aute (ONZFPA Silver Medal 2020), Oma and Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Diary Champion 2022 Marinated Cloud.

When the goats are milking – from spring to autumn, Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheeses are regular stall holders at Hawke’s Bay the Farmers’ Market, their cheese is also available online from their website www.nieuwenhuisfarmsteadcheese.com.