Floridia Cheese nominated for Australian Grand Dairy Awards

Floridia Cheese is in the running for two prizes at the upcoming Australian Grand Dairy Awards.

Named after the Montalto family’s ancestral home in Italy, Floridia Cheese has been a frequent prize winner at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards.

Next week, Mauro Montalto and his cheesemaking colleagues are poised to continue that winning streak.

Two of Floridia’s cheese lines in the running for the 2023 awards – the highest accolades for dairy produce nationally.

“It’s always great to be recognised. It shows you’re on the right track and encourages you to keep on going,” Mr Montalto told The Weekly Times.

Floridia’s burrata is one of three shortlisted in the fresh unripened cheese category, competing against the Montefiore Trecce from Montefiore Cheese and the Stracciatella from That’s Amore Cheese.

Mr Montalto said burrata had always been a firm favourite in Italian cuisine but its popularity was spreading across many culinary categories and formats.

“You do see burrata served more in restaurants now than you did only a few years ago,” he said. “At functions, weddings. It’s a versatile cheese.

Floridia is also in the running for the hard cheese prize, up against the Bella Italian Herb from Real Dairy Australia and the Mil Lel Parmesan from Saputo’s Warrnambool Cheese and Butter factory.

“It’s all about the freshness and quality of the milk,” Mr Montalto said. “Milk is obviously seasonal and the milk you get one month is often not the same as another month. So you’ve got to adapt your cheesemaking to suit the seasons.”

Mr Montalto’s grandfather – also named Mauro – established Floridia Cheese three years after migrating to Australia in 1952 with his wife Carmela and their three sons.

Mauro Montalto at Floridia Cheese. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

More than 300 products spanning 18 categories, including milks, yoghurts, ice creams, butter, cream and an array of cheese types are shortlisted for this year’s awards.

Entries came from across the county and resulted in 17 manufacturers from Victoria making the finalist list, with winners to be announced next Thursday in Melbourne.

Grand Dairy Awards chief judge Russell Smith said the quality of the fresh unripened cheese varieties had shown marked improvement.

“Especially the Italian style stretched curd cheese,” he said.

“The quality of these cheeses has improved dramatically over the last decade to the point where the majority really are world class.”