The annual cheese festival was held at Bien Donne at Franschhoek from 24-26 April. A couple of weeks previously, a panel consisting of Slow committee members and Valerie Elder of the Real Cheese, tasted a selection of cheeses presented by Kobus Mulder ofAgri-Expo – the ‘Mr Cheese’ of the Western Cape. After much deliberation, a number of local cheesemakers were deemed worthy of Slow Food Cheese Awards for 2009. These awards were presented at a small ceremony held at the Festival. The following cheesemakers received awards:

For Excellence:

• Wayne Rademeyer of Buffalo Ridge, for his buffalo milk mozzarella.
• Aubrey Potgieter and Marianne Hemmes of Foxenberg Estate for their fromage de chevre.
• Lanie Marais of La Rochelle Kaas for her Roché.
• Rina and Norman Belcher of Belnori Boutique Cheesery for the cows milk gouda.
• Alba Lamprecht of Nuwehoogte Bokmelk Kaas for her goats’ milk vinicio (soaked in pertit verdot red wine).
• Robert von Tobien of Kimili Farm for his Vintner’s Hook washed rind soft cows’ milk cheese

For Innovation:

• Ulrika Christiansen of Forest Hill Cheesery for her marisch with Cajun
• Mahlamola Moso of Kimilili Farm for his cows’ milk Cape Mosonais

For her contribution to the dairy industry:

• Gay van Hasselt of Gay’s Guernsey Dairy

Kobus Mulder has provided some potted biographies of the prizewinning cheesemakers.

Rina and Norman Belcher of Belnori began their cheesemaking venture about seven years ago with two goats on their smallholding near Bapsfontein. They are innovative cheesemakers and very keen supporters of goat’s milk cheese matters. They have done very well at international competitions and have won Qualite Awards locally. Most of their cheeses are sold on morning markets in Gauteng.

Marianne Hemmes of Foxenburg Cheese sells her goat’s milk cheese on morning markets and in selected delis. She also grows oyster mushrooms and olives and produces outstanding olive oil.

Ulrika Christiansen of Forest Hill Cheese trained at Camphill many years ago, and has made cheese in the Hemel en Aarde valley and at Kimilili in Tulbagh, but for the last two years she has been at Forest Hill.

Robert von Tobien of Kimilili near Tulbagh is a German who came to this country after spending time making cheese in the USA. He uses raw milk, and produces some adventurous cheeses. Two of his cheese makers have trained in France – one of whom, Mahlamola Moso, won a Slow award for his innovative cows’ milk Cape Mosonais. The name of his cheese is a pun on his surname and the French cheese that inspired it.

Alba Lamprecht of Nuwehoogte Bokmelk Kaas lives outside Robertson, where her dentist father milks the goats, while Ma and daughter make the cheeses.

Estalanie Marais of La Rochelle, is French-trained. Outgoing and innovative, she milks the goats, makes the cheese and sells it all herself.

HOW TO CONTACT THE WINNERS:

Rina & Norman Belcher of Belnori Boutique Cheesery: for their goats milk Gouda. They also make other types of goats milk cheese. ( Bapsfontein) http://www.belnori.co.za/info@belnori.co.za
Rina Belcher 082 377 5698 rina@belnori.co.za
Norman Belcher 082 330 4706 / 011 964 3405 norman@belnori.co.za

Wayne Rademeyer of Buffalo Ridge: for his buffalo milk Mozzarella (Wellington) Buffalo Ridge at Inyathi Ridge Farm, off the R44, 11km north of Wellington

Buffalo Ridge Farm isn’t generally open to the public, but does cater for visits by special arrangement. Contact Wayne Rademeyer on 082 375 0977, or email buffaloridge@iafrica.com.

Ulrika Christiansen of Forest Hill Cheesery: for her Marisch with Cajun.Anura Vineyards, Simondium Road,.Klapmuts, 7670 B92
Telephone: +27 21 875 5360, +27 21 875 5398+27

Marianne Hemmes and Aubrey Potgieter of Foxenburg Estate : for their Fromage de Chevre Foxenburg Estate, Agter-Groenberg, Wellington. Contact :Tel: +27 (0) 21 873 5617, Mobile: +27 (0) 82 600 5689
marianne@foxenburg.co.za

Gay van Hasselt of Gay’s Dairy : for all her cheeses

Gay’s Guernsey Dairy Tel: 023 5411 274 Upper Kerkstraat, Prince Albert

Dairy tours can be arranged: Please telephone Gay at  023 5411 274 or 023 5411 538

Mahlomola Moso of Kimilili Farm: for his Cape Mosonais

Robert von Tobien of Kimilili Farm: for his Vintner’s Hook cheese

KIMILILI FARM (PTY) LTD

We welcome visitors to the Farm. Second farm to the left on the Boontjiesrivier Road off the R46 between Tulbagh and Wolsely.
Open weekdays for cheese tasting & sales, by appointment only.
P.O. BOX 328, TULBAGH 6820
TEL: +27 23 231-1503
EMAIL: info@KimililiFarm.co.za

http://www.kimililifarm.co.za/

Alba Lamprecht of Nuwehoogte Bokmelk Kaas: for her goats milk Vinici

Nuwehoogte Plaas, Robertson
nuwehoogte@yahoo.com

Tel: 0722091047, 0236264165

Lanie Marais of La Rochelle Kaas : for her goats milk Roché

La Rochelle Kaas by De Doorns ( Still trying to get contact details)

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