South African cheesemakers dazzled at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Switzerland! They won many shiny medals, including two top Super Gold awards for Klein River Cheese’s Babylonstoren Parmesan and Dalewood Fromage’s Boland cheese. Nellie Fischer was even named the Best Female Cheesemaker. This big win makes South Africa super proud and shows their amazing cheese is now famous all over the world!
What were South Africa’s achievements at the 2025 World Cheese Awards?
South Africa secured numerous honors at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Switzerland, including multiple Super Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for various cheese types. Klein River Cheese earned a Super Gold for their Babylonstoren Parmesan, and Dalewood Fromage’s Boland cheese also received a Super Gold. Nellie Fischer was recognized as Best Female Cheesemaker.
World-Class Competition in the Heart of Switzerland
In the picturesque mountain valleys of Switzerland, the 2025 World Cheese Awards assembled the planet’s top cheese artisans, tasters, and critics. This prestigious annual contest draws thousands of handcrafted entries, from robust blues to aged cheddars, showcasing the diversity and mastery of global cheesemaking. More than 200 specialists, drawn from nearly every continent, scrutinized every entry during an intense, impartial judging process based on attributes such as texture, taste, imagination, and overall presentation.
South Africa emerged from this fiercely competitive environment with a celebration of talent and a wave of national pride. Local producers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best, not only participating but capturing honors across numerous major divisions. The country’s victory inspired a resurgence of optimism among dairy producers nationwide, mainstreaming South African cheese and spurring further innovation.
Agricultural Minister John Steenhuisen addressed the country to praise the achievement, describing it as a defining moment that places South African cheese at the forefront of international recognition. This endorsement encouraged renewed commitment from dairy professionals and highlighted the importance of continued excellence and creativity.
Klein River Cheese: A Tradition of Excellence
Leading the South African delegation was Klein River Cheese, a family-run enterprise known for marrying heritage with invention. The cheesemakers, based in the mellow landscapes of Stanford, achieved unprecedented recognition and brought home a haul of ten top medals. Their 24-month aged Babylonstoren Parmesan earned the prestigious Super Gold – a marker reserved for the world’s elite cheeses – showcasing the exceptional quality emanating from the Cape Overberg.
At the core of their success lies a philosophy rooted in patience and an embrace of the region’s unique ‘terroir’. Klein River’s process involves slowly nurturing flavors under cool, gentle breezes, allowing every wheel to mature to perfection. Their gold-winning cheeses included the 12-month Parmesan and the six-month Woolworths Gruberg Mature, while top-tier silver medals went to the Spar Signature Selection Smoked Artisan Gouda and the Gruberg Vintage aged for a year.
Klein River also stood out with five bronze distinctions for cheeses like Havarti, Danbo, Cape Leopard, Gruberg Young, and Woolworths Oak-smoked Stanford. Each award celebrated a blend of technical finesse and a keen sense for innovation, setting high standards for ripening and made-from-scratch cheeses that others now strive to meet.
Dalewood Fromage and the Power of People
Dalewood Fromage underscored South Africa’s ability to blend tradition with bold new ideas. Their Boland cheese won the illustrious Super Gold, offering homage to the matured Alpine styles while reflecting South Africa’s rich agricultural heritage. Dalewood’s celebrated Huguenot also earned a Gold, underscoring the label’s commitment to quality and complexity.
What elevated Dalewood’s impact was the individual achievement of Nellie Fischer, honored as Best Female Cheesemaker. Her accomplishments went beyond personal acclaim, representing the increasing strength and leadership of women in the industry. Fischer’s reputation as a champion of ethical farming and her active mentoring of new cheesemakers underscored a culture of sustainability and empowerment.
Dalewood continues to advocate innovative dairy farming and supports educational outreach that empowers women and underrepresented groups. Fischer’s award stands as a beacon for aspiring cheesemakers, signaling South Africa’s progressive spirit and inclusive vision for the sector.
Achievements of Large-Scale Producers: Lancewood, Fairview, and Lactalis
While boutique producers made waves, South Africa’s established dairy companies also reinforced the country’s standing. Lancewood, recognized for its creative flavors and dependable standards, claimed a Gold for its sweet chilli medium-fat cream cheese and a Bronze for their Mature Cheddar. This success testifies to Lancewood’s ability to balance innovation with tradition in the domestic and export markets.
Fairview Cheese continued to affirm its prestige in the soft cheese category, picking up a Bronze for the Paarl Rock Brie – a prime example of South African artistry in soft-ripened cheeses. Lactalis South Africa, a brand with a global outlook backed by wide experience, garnered three bronze medals for its range of matured and semi-matured Goudas and Cheddar. Their consistent performance BOLSTERS South Africa’s profile for reliability in large-scale production.
This collective success among industry leaders highlights a thriving ecosystem where various actors – from small farms to large international players – contribute to a culture of quality and creativity. The awards serve as both a testament and a challenge to maintain the momentum and continue pushing for higher standards.
Momentum in the South African Dairy Industry
Sustaining Legacy and Embracing Innovation
The cheese sector in South Africa traces its origins to centuries-old European influence but has blossomed into a dynamic industry with a distinct local identity. Annually, cheesemakers transform more than 800 million liters of milk into over 82,000 tons of cheese, which reaches tables from local markets to global gourmet stores.
Recent years have brought a surge in international exports, as the flavor profiles and artisanal quality of South African products appeal to new markets. In 2024, dairy shipments totaled roughly 56,000 tons, with cheese accounting for 16 percent, most often headed to Africa’s neighboring nations and countries in the Middle East.
This ability to operate as a net exporter of cheese speaks volumes about South Africa’s competitiveness. Local producers credit the unique characteristics imparted by regional breeds, climate conditions, and sustainable farming methods for distinguishing their wares. Winning at the World Cheese Awards represents more than prestige; it serves as a launch pad to forge relationships with international buyers and broaden the country’s culinary horizons.
Building an Environment for Growth
A robust dairy industry rests on the efforts of a broad community: from the farmhands tending the animals, to the dairy technicians, to those designing packaging and logistics systems. This year’s award ceremony highlighted the value of honoring every person participating in cheese’s journey from pasture to plate.
Many victorious producers are spearheading projects aimed at greater sustainability. Initiatives such as water-saving processes, solar-powered operations, and rotational grazing not only support environmental goals but also appeal to consumers and judges who evaluate responsibility alongside taste.
In parallel, cheese cooperatives and training programs are reducing barriers for new entrants. Efforts to involve young talent and historically disadvantaged groups have started changing the demographics of the industry. The growing presence of female cheesemakers, exemplified by Nellie Fischer’s victory, signals a transformative period in which potential and opportunity become more widely shared.
International Engagement and Knowledge Exchange
South African cheesemakers have leveraged entry into competitions like the World Cheese Awards to absorb knowledge, spark innovation, and pursue growth links abroad. Participation extends beyond winning medals; it invites cross-cultural exchange through workshops, technical tastings, and on-farm collaborations in the days leading up to the awards.
Back home, these experiences translate into improved practices and new events that celebrate local success. National cheese festivals, master classes, and collaborative research initiatives are flourishing, partly inspired by exposure to global standards and trends.
State Support and Future Vision
Policy Backing and Industry Ambitions
The endorsement South Africa’s cheese industry received from the government underscores its importance to the economy and rural communities. Minister John Steenhuisen’s recognition, echoed by stakeholders such as the South African Cheese Union and AgriSA, highlighted ongoing policy efforts to strengthen the sector.
Priority areas for support include reducing administrative burdens for small farms, expanding logistic capabilities, and providing guidance for attaining international food certifications. These steps are designed to foster a business climate where local producers can focus on quality while scaling up to enter new export markets.
Contact with the public and international clients is managed through dedicated teams at the Ministry of Agriculture, with officials like Joylene van Wyk coordinating efforts to spotlight local cheese and connect potential buyers with South African makers. This communication bridge gives the industry a ready line of access to advice, networking opportunities, and government backing.
Setting Sights on the Future
South Africa’s resounding success in Switzerland in 2025 has significantly raised the bar for the national cheese industry. What started as a challenge on foreign soil has turned into proof of South African artisans’ talent and imagination. With ambitions running high, the next phase will involve exploring new product categories, experimenting with cross-cultural blends, and expanding into emerging markets.
This era signals not just skillful craftsmanship but a commitment to sustainability, inclusiveness, and continuous growth. The accolades achieved represent not an endpoint, but an open invitation to invest further in local talent, develop new technologies, and celebrate an increasingly varied and vibrant cheese landscape. South Africa’s makers now stand prepared to inspire, collaborate, and lead the way on the international culinary stage.
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“question”: “What were South Africa’s achievements at the 2025 World Cheese Awards?”,
“answer”: “South Africa secured numerous honors at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Switzerland, including multiple Super Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for various cheese types. Klein River Cheese earned a Super Gold for their Babylonstoren Parmesan, and Dalewood Fromage’s Boland cheese also received a Super Gold. Nellie Fischer was recognized as Best Female Cheesemaker.”
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“question”: “Which South African cheesemakers won the top Super Gold awards?”,
“answer”: “Klein River Cheese won a Super Gold award for their Babylonstoren Parmesan, and Dalewood Fromage received a Super Gold for their Boland cheese.”
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“question”: “Who was recognized as the Best Female Cheesemaker at the awards?”,
“answer”: “Nellie Fischer of Dalewood Fromage was honored with the title of Best Female Cheesemaker, highlighting her individual achievements and leadership in the industry.”
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“question”: “What are some of the other notable awards won by South African producers?”,
“answer”: “Beyond the Super Gold awards, Klein River Cheese also received Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for cheeses like their 12-month Parmesan, Woolworths Gruberg Mature, and various Goudas. Dalewood Fromage’s Huguenot earned a Gold, while Lancewood and Fairview Cheese also secured Gold and Bronze medals in several categories.”
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“question”: “How has this success impacted South Africa’s dairy industry?”,
“answer”: “This international recognition has brought a surge of national pride and optimism to the South African dairy industry. It’s expected to spur further innovation, strengthen relationships with international buyers, and broaden the country’s culinary horizons, fostering growth and increasing exports.”
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“question”: “What is the South African government’s role in supporting the cheese industry?”,
“answer”: “The South African government, through Minister John Steenhuisen and the Ministry of Agriculture, actively supports the cheese industry by reducing administrative burdens for small farms, expanding logistic capabilities, providing guidance for international food certifications, and coordinating efforts to connect local producers with potential buyers and networking opportunities.”
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