MEET YOUR {OUTSTANDING} CHEESEMAKER - THE DRUNKEN NANNY

Amanda and Lindsey Goodman are living proof that if you’re passionate about what you do you can overcome any obstacles.

Despite the challenges of developing their own goat herd, milking 365 days a year, developing a fresh goats cheese business and bringing up their own three children – whenever you meet them they’re always smiling!

The Drunken Nanny is on their family farm just 16km south of Martinborough deep in the heart of Wairarapa. Amanda’s family had goats when she was a child and somehow she convinced Lindsey that it would be a great idea for them…so they’ve hand-selected, bred and raised a herd of dairy goats whose milk goes into making The Drunken Nanny’s cheeses.

The Goodman’s goats have a pretty idyllic life, with plenty of space to graze and lots of different pasture and herbs, which contribute to the fresh, delicate flavours of their cheeses. The goats enjoy plenty of company in the paddocks, from ‘Rosie Chocolates’ the gregarious Kunekune pig, her three bonny piglets, Saffy the spaniel, a flock of tame white ducks and a couple of cats to boot, not forgetting Amanda, Lindsey and their three goatherds-in-training…

Amanda explains; “We started our goats’ cheese adventure with a small herd of 25 milking does. In the 2017/18 season we expanded to 175 does. All our milking is done on site, and the cheese is made daily in our purpose-built cheese room alongside the milking stand.”

The Drunken Nanny is a fun name comes from the fact that their farm is in a region surrounded by wineries. Being a sustainable business they make use of everything they can – including vineyard and winery by-products such a vine prunnings and grape must. But don’t worry the goats aren’t really drunken – just very happy.

The Drunken Nanny products have been part of the Outstanding Food Producer Awards since 2017 and their roll of honour is

 Gold Medals

  • The Drunken Nanny, Lemony Lush (2018)

  • The Drunken Nanny, Goat Milk Kefir (2018)

  • The Drunken Nanny, Black Tie (2019)

  • The Drunken Nanny Dill Lush (2019)

 Silver Medals

  • The Drunken Nanny, Fresh Lush (2018)

  • The Drunken Nanny, Fresh Lush (2019)

  • The Drunken Nanny, Goat Milk Kefir (2019)

 Bronze Medals

  • The Drunken Nanny, Pasteurised Goat Milk (2019)

Look out for The Drunken Nanny at the finest food stores including; Farro, Moore Wilson’s and C’est Cheese in Featherston to name a few. For more info and a list of all their stockists visit their website http://www.thedrunkennanny.co.nz/

Nicola McConnellMeet Your Maker