At the July meeting of the South Wairarapa Probus Club in Greytown Janet and Miles King of ‘Kingsmeade” cheeses gave members a full and light hearted introduction to the production of sheep’s milk cheeses.
Miles is in charge of the flock of 200 Friesian milking ewes on their property north of Masterton and is the cheese-maker, an art that was self taught. This involved a fair amount of trial and error when they first started in 1995, but now they produce high quality cheese consistently.
Samples were passed among the members to try, with approving responses. The firm cheese, Wairarapa Jack, was particularly good. Miles also told us of the high fertility of the ewes who frequently produce triplets, and of the new market developing for the surplus male lambs as a specialty meat for the restaurant trade.
Janet is in charge of the marketing of the cheeses under the “Kingsmeade” brand. Sheep’s milk is particularly rich in milk solids and is ideal for making cheeses. These have a special flavour of their own and are also ideal for those people who cannot tolerate cow’s milk. “Kingsmeade” cheeses are now sold widely in New Zealand particularly to top end restaurants and resorts.
Probus Club members gave warm applause for a most interesting presentation.”
