Abbey Farm Cottage Awarded ‘New Cheese Maker of the Year’ at Virtual Cheese Awards
Source: The DairyNews
Abbey Farm Cottage, under the stewardship of Suzie Birrel-Gray and her husband Jonty, has been honored with the ‘New Cheese Maker of the Year 2024’ title at this year’s Virtual Cheese Awards.
These awards were initiated in 2020 by dairy consultant Sarah de Wit to promote transparency in the judging process by live-streaming the judges' critiques.
In its fifth iteration, the competition saw over 200 entries of British cheeses across various categories, including blue, cheddar, speciality, and artisan. Suzie emerged victorious in the newcomer category with her Rosedale soft cheeses, crafted from raw milk sourced from her own Golden Guernsey and British Guernsey goats. Additionally, she secured a joint first place in one of the gold class categories with her Rosedale cheese and a blue variety named Bell End. This cheese draws its name from a historic area in Rosedale village, renowned for its bell sounds in times past.
Suzie expressed her and Jonty's joy at this recognition: “We are absolutely delighted to win such a meaningful accolade just six months after receiving the approval to produce our cheese. It affirms all the hard work we’ve invested in our business. We are dedicated to showcasing the essence of Rosedale through our goat cheeses, and this award boosts our confidence to persevere in our endeavors.”
The award ceremony, held over two days, was hosted by BBC broadcaster and advocate for local food and drink, Nigel Barden.
In its fifth iteration, the competition saw over 200 entries of British cheeses across various categories, including blue, cheddar, speciality, and artisan. Suzie emerged victorious in the newcomer category with her Rosedale soft cheeses, crafted from raw milk sourced from her own Golden Guernsey and British Guernsey goats. Additionally, she secured a joint first place in one of the gold class categories with her Rosedale cheese and a blue variety named Bell End. This cheese draws its name from a historic area in Rosedale village, renowned for its bell sounds in times past.
Suzie expressed her and Jonty's joy at this recognition: “We are absolutely delighted to win such a meaningful accolade just six months after receiving the approval to produce our cheese. It affirms all the hard work we’ve invested in our business. We are dedicated to showcasing the essence of Rosedale through our goat cheeses, and this award boosts our confidence to persevere in our endeavors.”
The award ceremony, held over two days, was hosted by BBC broadcaster and advocate for local food and drink, Nigel Barden.
