GONGED!
When the gates open to the Melbourne Royal Show this year Castlemaine’s own Long Paddock Cheese will be served to VIPs attending the show.
This follows an award that was given to Long Paddock Cheese in 2025. Last year, the judges at the Melbourne Royal Food Awards bestowed upon them the title of Champion Cheese for Banksia, their alpine tomme-style cheese. The team liked what they tasted so much that they placed an order to serve it to their VIPs at this year’s show.
The medals for the 2026 Melbourne Royal Food Awards have also been announced with Long Paddock picking up a gold medal for Banksia, putting it in the running for a trophy. The team’s fingers are crossed for later this month, when the winner will be announced at the MasterChef Kitchen at the showgrounds.
There has been one more important recognition. At the end of August, Melbourne Food and Wine, one of the most respected industry organisations in the nation, paid tribute to Long Paddock’s late co-founder, Alison Lansley, at its annual Legends awards ceremony.
Alison was posthumously named the 2026 Producer Legend, an honour bestowed by her peers and decided by a select panel. Long Paddock Cheese’s General Manager, Gaetan Chapon, gave a moving and warmly received speech before accepting the award alongside Alison’s husband, David.
The entire team at Long Paddock Cheese took great pride and solace in the award and in the respect from the industry that comes with it.
SPRING
Warmer weather and recent rains have brought a flush of growth to the pastures on Long Paddock’s organic dairy farm at Girgarre. This abundance of grass means the herds are producing not only more milk, but richer milk.
As many regulars know, Long Paddock makes their cheese in the French style. This means they partially skim the milk before making some of their cheeses, particularly the softer Silver Wattle and Driftwood. That leaves them with litres of beautiful cream, which they use to make crème fraîche and cultured butter.
You can buy both from their Cheese Shop at The Mill Castlemaine open Thu-Sun 09.30am to 4.30pm
