Award-Winning Artisan Cheese

Making cheese since 2004, Stoneyford-based Knockdrinna began making products in a small way in the family kitchen, using cow’s milk from a local farmer. Just one year later, though, and the fledgling company had moved to a small cheese dairy: it was an inspired move that has seen Knockdrinna go from strength to strength.

In fact, today the company makes a growing range of cheeses, including Knockdrinna Gold Goats Cheese (Gold Medal SHOP International Cheese Awards 2007, Silver Medal British Cheese Awards 2006 & 2007 & 2008), Knockdrinna Meadow Sheep’s Cheese (Best New Cheese & Gold British Cheese Awards 2007, Gold British Cheese Awards 2008, Silver British Cheese Awards 2008, Gold Medal and Best New Cheese SHOP International Cheese Awards 2007), Lavistown Cheese (Gold & Best Irish Gold & Best Irish – British Cheese Awards 2008), and Knockdrinna Snow (Best New Cheese Irish National Cheese Awards 2007, Bronze British Cheese Awards 2007).

This year Knockdrinna snatched three major awards for its Kilree Goats Cheese at the British Cheese Awards winning Best Semi Soft Cheese, Best Irish and the ultimate accolade, The SUPREME CHAMPION AWARD, judged to be the best of 904 cheeses in the England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Judges of the cheese describe it as having flavours which burst in your mouth, heavenly aromas, and with textures that are just what you would expect from some of the best artisan cheeses produced anywhere today.
Knockdrinna also offers a Fresh Goat Log, which is a crumbly tangy cheese, ideal for crumbling into salads or onto a pizza, and a local greek-style cheese which, you will not be surprised to discover, is an award-winner too.

Whatever the cheese, though, Knockdrinna only uses milk, rennet, culture and salt: absolutely NO preservatives, additives, colourings, hormones, artificial flavours or antibiotics.
All of the company’s cow’s milk comes from a herd of Friesian/Holstein cows just half a mile from its own farm, whilst its sheep’s milk is produced on the limestone pastures just outside Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

Knockdrinna is currently widely available in Ireland in speciality shops and fine food stores, and is currently winging its way onto the UK market. Cheeses are currently available to buy on line at www.knockdrinna.com.