Whitestone Cheese Co.

Whitestone Cheese opened its doors in 1987 in an old Ōamaru mechanic shop with one part-time cheesemaker. All these years on and the business produces 25 different kinds of cheese with a team of 75 strong. 

Whitestone Cheese ranges from soft white to silky smooth blues and fresh feta. Nowadays, these cheeses are enjoyed all over New Zealand and win awards at international cheese shows across the globe. Even after so much success, Whitestone cheese is still made with what the team considers to be the very best raw material in the world, North Otago milk. All the different types, like the ever-popular Windsor Blue, are named for the Waitaki region’s landmarks and icons as a salute to the terroir.

At Whitestone’s Torridge Street location, you can visit the cheese café and take one of their tours which cover every aspect of the artisan cheesemaking process. Cheese, as it turns out, has been around for over 10,000 years. It’s a part of our history from the time of the pharaohs, and here you can get the whole story. 

Tours at Whitestone start with an overview of the business and a quick lesson in the origin and evolution of the stuff they love so much. From there, you’ll get an up-close look at the different stages, including curdling, moulding, de-hopping, brining, salting and cutting. This hour-long ‘homage to fromage’ ends with a tasting that will captivate even the youngest cheese enthusiasts’ attention and fascination. 

As Whitestone puts it, their cheese is ‘handcrafted to be destroyed’. After learning all about it, seeing how it’s made and trying it for yourself, you’ll understand exactly what they mean.