Dalewood Fromage, a famous cheese farm situated on the R101 outside Paarl, has made a remarkable impression at the 37th World Cheese Awards in Switzerland, securing its place among the top 110 cheeses in the world at the largest cheese-only competition on the planet.
Held in Bern at the end of 2025, the event saw more than 5 200 cheeses from 46 countries judged by 265 international experts, including retailers, chefs, journalists, and dairy professionals. Amid such fierce competition, Dalewood Fromage claimed three major accolades for three of their cheeses, namely the signature cheeses “Boland” and “Simond”, which won a super-gold medal, and “Huguenot” a gold medal.
“These results highlight Dalewood’s commitment to regenerative farming and traditional farmstead cheesemaking, producing cheeses that are proudly South African,” Dalewood Fromage said in a statement.
Adding to the triumph, Dalewood’s own Nellie Fischer was named Best Female Cheese Maker at the awards.
Fischer, who has dedicated 25 years to the craft, received the honour for her work on the Boland cheese, the competition’s super-gold medal winner.
“[Fischer] has been part of the Dalewood family since the very beginning. Every cheese she creates carries her passion, skill, and unwavering care – a true reflection of her dedication to the craft. We are endlessly proud to celebrate her talent and the love she pours into what she does,” Dalewood Fromage said.
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Fischer’s journey reflects a wider South African success story in cheesemaking training.
In 2010, she received the Burgundy Cheesemaking Fellowship, a programme run by Agri-Expo and supported by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. Between 2005 and 2014 the initiative offered hands-on training in Burgundy, France, to 38 aspiring South African cheesemakers.
