Cream of the crop: Australian Grand Dairy Awards announced

The nation’s best dairy products were recognised at the 26th Australian Grand Dairy Awards, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds on 30 October 2024. Hosted by Dairy Australia and the Royal Agricultural Societies, the annual awards recognise excellence, quality and innovation, attracting entries from producers Australia-wide.

This year two producers from Western Australia claimed the Grand Champion titles, with Dellendale Creamery being crowned the Grand Champion Cheese title for its Churchill Rd Raclette, and Bannister Downs Dairy taking home the Grand Champion Dairy Product for its Double Cream.

After founding Dellendale Creamery in 2010, Grand Champion Cheese winner Chris Vogel could not have anticipated how the challenges and rewards of cheesemaking would lead to such prestigious recognition years later.

“This prestigious recognition reflects the knowledge we’ve built over 15 years and our small team’s passion and endeavour in handcrafting, washing and tending to every wheel of cheese in our cellar. We’ve always believed in the quality and tradition behind our cheeses, and this award is a testament to that commitment,” Vogel said.

Grand Champion Dairy Product winners Mat and Sue Daubney from Bannister Downs Dairy Farm have carried their family’s dairy legacy for the past 20 years. The farm was first established by Mat’s grandparents, Edith and James Daubney in 1924.

“Being recognised as the Grand Champion is a true honour, and it reflects the generations of hard work and dedication that have shaped our farm, and the wonderfully abundant area we are so fortunate to farm in,” Daubney said.

“We’ve seen the industry change, grow and innovate each year, and we’re excited to be championing our family traditions, all while also embracing innovation to produce the highest-quality dairy for our community and beyond.”

The 2024 winning Champions demonstrated the breadth of Australian dairy, spanning from traditional cheeses to native and international flavours. The champions included products such as khajoor- (date) flavoured milk, masala lassi, Japanese-inspired yuzu custard gelato, and native Tasmanian pepperberry and leatherwood honey ice cream.

International Cheese Judge Jill Allen, part of the panel of expert judges this year, praised this year’s entrants for their remarkable display of craftsmanship and superior standards of Australian dairy production.

“This year we saw a wealth of products, all exceptional in high quality, everything spanning from beautiful yoghurts, wonderful milks and amazing cheddars,” Allen said.

“This year, I’ve seen a lot of flavours that I haven’t encountered before, especially from my past judging in the US, which speaks to the characteristics and diversity of Australian dairy.

“To have this accolade bestowed on a product is a nod to the quality and standard of a producer. Australian consumers can feel confident knowing that when they purchase a product with a blue and gold medal, that they’ll be experiencing the very best of Australian dairy.”

Each winner exemplified excellence in their respective categories, including milk, cheese, yoghurt and ice cream, demonstrating outstanding quality and craftsmanship. These titles represent the pinnacle of achievement in the dairy industry, highlighting the immense dedication and skill behind each product.

Dairy Australia Head of Marketing Glenys Zucco said the awards represent more than just an annual celebration; they are also a testament to Australia’s unique and longstanding history with dairy.

“Dairy Australia and the Royal Agricultural Societies are thrilled to celebrate the extraordinary array of talented and dedicated dairy professionals who contribute significantly to the nation’s vibrant food culture,” Zucco said.

“This year’s entrants into the Australian Grand Dairy Awards showcased a diverse range of flavours and aromas from every state in Australia.

“We are impressed by each of these individuals who not only uphold the tradition of high-quality Australian dairy, but also continuously push boundaries and ideas that resonate both locally and internationally.”

The Awards featured 406 entries across 22 categories, with each product evaluated on its flavour, aroma, texture, body and appearance. For products to be eligible to enter the Australian Grand Dairy awards, the product must be produced in Australia with 100% Australian milk and have won gold at a state qualifying competition. Products must also be available to be purchased by consumers in Australian retail markets.

This year also saw new award categories being introduced, including Novelty Ice Cream, Fresh Curd Stretched Cheese, and Other Goat, Sheep, Buffalo and Camel Milk products.

For more information, visit: www.dairy.com.au/agda.

2024 Australian Grand Dairy Award winners

Category	Producer	Product
Grand Champion Cheese	Dellendale Creamery	Churchill Rd Raclette
Grand Champion Dairy Product	Bannister Downs	Dairy Double Cream
Champion Fresh Unripened	Cheese La Casa Del Formaggio	Mascarpone
Champion Fresh Stretched Curd	Cheese Montefiore Cheese Australia	Ovolini
Champion White Mould Cheese	Hunter Belle Dairy Co.	Ash Briebelle
Champion Semi-Hard/Eye Cheese	Dellendale Creamery	Churchill Rd Raclette
Champion Cheddar Cheese	Bega Cheese	heritage Reserve Vintage Cheddar
Champion Hard Cheese	Floridia Cheese	Pecorino Red Chilli
Champion Blue Cheese	Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese	Oak Blue
Champion Washed/Mixed Rind	Cheese Milawa Cheese Company	King River Gold
Champion Flavoured Cheese	Saputo Dairy Australia	King Island Dairy Stokes Point Smoked Cheddar
Champion Goat/Sheep/Buffalo and Camel Milk Cheese	Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese	Riverine Blue
Champion Butter	Fonterra Australia	Pure Valley Unsalted Butter
Champion Cream	Bannister Downs	Dairy Double Cream
Champion Flavoured Milk	Sharma's Kitchen	Khajoor Milk
Champion Modified Milk	Brownes Dairy	Farmdale Full Cream Lactose Free Milk
Champion Milk	Lactalis Australia – Lidcombe	Pauls Farmhouse Gold Full Cream Milk
Champion Dairy Dessert	Jay's Dairy	Pineapple Shrikhand
Champion Dairy Gelato	Gelateria Gondola	Yuzu Custard Gelato
Champion Novelty Ice Cream	Bulla Family Dairy	Murray St Lemon Meringue Tart Sticks
Champion Ice Cream	Van Diemens Land Creamery	Pepperberry & Leatherwood Honey Ice cream
Champion Flavoured Yoghurt	Jay's Dairy	Masala Lassi
Champion Natural Yoghurt	Brownes Dairy	The Greek Unsweetened Natural Yoghurt
Champion Other Goat/Sheep/Buffalo or Camel Milk Product	Meredith Dairy	Natural Goat Milk Yoghurt Probiotic