New Zealand's top tasting steak for 2018

New Zealand’s top tasting steak has been announced at the 2018 PGG Wrightson Steak of Origin Grand Final which took place at Fieldays this afternoon. The title went to Colleen and Jon Knauf of Wairoa with a Simmental which was entered into the Best of Breed - European Class.

This award-winning steak was produced just north of Wairoa on the boundary of Hawkes Bay and Gisborne by the mother and son team – Colleen and Jon – who were understandably delighted with the win.

“This is the pinnacle of our breeding – it’s why we breed, to get this shield and the recognition for our work. For Simmental – a European breed – to win when Angus and other breeds have done so well in the past is fantastic,” said Colleen.

“My son Jon – who was unable to attend today due to a road slip – deserves a lot of credit for this, he’s really good with his stock. Using science, stockmanship and Simmental is what has done the trick.”

Head Judge, Graham Hawkes, President of the NZ Chef’s Association and Executive Chef at the renowned Paddington Arms in Invercargill, oversaw proceedings on the day. 

 “The PGG Wrightson Steak of Origin is the pride of New Zealand’s red meat production - the celebration of all beef breeders in the country. This is how the industry decides the best tasting steak, helping to guide chefs like me on top quality produce.

“The winner, ticked all the boxes for me and really was the hero on the day. It was tender, it was tasty, it had texture and it was so succulent. It really was the champion of champions.”

For the entries to even reach the Grand Final they must have passed a series of stringent examinations. Initially, all 266 entries were sent to Carne Technologies where they were scientifically tested on tenderness, % cooking loss in weight, marbling, colour, water binding capacity and pH.

From there, only the very best 53 steaks went forward to the semi-final judging round where a 16-strong panel of chefs came together in Auckland to whittle that number down to the top three medallists in each of the eight categories.

The Grand Champion and Brand Champion – which was awarded to First Light Foods who produced a Wagyu – were then decided today by the five judges which included some of New Zealand’s top chefs: Andrew Clarke, Victoria Street Bistro, Hamilton; Mat McLean, Palate Restaurant, Hamilton and Harry Williams, Alpha Street Kitchen & Bar, Cambridge – with three of the judges current or former Beef and Lamb Ambassador Chefs.

A fifth judge was added to the panel this year after Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s search for the nation’s Ultimate Steak Connoisseur. The title went to Hamilton-based, Gretchen Binns after an inspired application video which set her apart from the rest of the herd.

The annual competition is open to all New Zealand beef farmers, retailers, wholesalers and foodservice suppliers. Now in its 16th year, the PGG Wrightson Steak of Origin is the pinnacle for beef producers in New Zealand, celebrating a product that is internationally renowned for its quality.

The competition is supported by the following processing plants; AFFCO, Alliance Group, Cabernet Foods, Harris Meats Cheviot, Land Meat NZ, Progressive Meats, Taylor Preston and Auckland Meat Processors / Wilson Hellaby.

The 2018 PGG Wrightson Beef + Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin award winners are;

2018 Grand Champion: Jon Knauf, Wairoa (Simmental), processed at Land Meat

2018 Brand Champion: First Light Foods, Hastings (Wagyu), processed at Greenlea Premier Meats

CLASS 1: BEST OF BREED – EUROPEAN

Gold: Jon Knauf, Wairoa (Simmental), processed at Land Meat

Silver: Hayley & Brendon Robinson, Hawera (Charolais), processed at Land Meat

Bronze: Peter Maxwell, Auckland (Simmental), processed at Wilson Hellaby

CLASS 2: BEST OF BREED – BRITISH : ANGUS

Gold: Chris & Karren Biddles, Tekopuru (Angus), processed at Wilson Hellaby

Silver: Penny & Pete Hoogerbrug, Gisborne (Angus), processed at Wilson Hellaby

Bronze: Paul Williams, Gisborne (Angus), processed at Progressive Meats

CLASS 3: BEST OF BREED – BRITISH : HEREFORD

Gold: Dene Noonan, Auckland (Hereford), processed at Wilson Hellaby

Silver: Bill Grounds, Kaitaia (Hereford), processed at AFFCO Moerewa

CLASS 4: BEST OF BREED – BRITISH : OTHER

Gold: Graeme John Dyke, Pahiatua (Red Devon), processed at Progressive Meats

Silver: Graeme John Dyke, Pahiatua (Red Devon), processed at Progressive Meats

Bronze: Graeme John Dyke, Pahiatua (Red Devon), processed at Progressive Meats

CLASS 5: BEST OF BREED – CROSSBREED & OTHER

Gold: Nick Perry, Pahiatua (Angus / Gelbvieh), processed at Alliance Levin

Silver: Colin Brown, Cambridge (Murray Grey / Wagyu), processed at Wilson Hellaby

Bronze: Don Buchanan, Taumarunui (Piedmontese X), processed at Land Meat

CLASS 6: BEST OF BREED – LIFESTYLE

Silver: Doug Wooderson, Te Kuiti (Hereford X), processed at Wilson Hellaby

CLASS 7: BEST OF BRAND – RETAIL

Gold: First Light Foods, Hastings (Wagyu), processed at Greenlea Premier

Silver: AngusPure, Otorohanga (Angus), processed at Wilson Hellaby

Bronze: Westmeat Blenheim (Hereford Prime, Canterbury Angus), Blenheim (Angus), processed at CMP Kokiri

CLASS 8: BEST OF BRAND – WHOLESALE & FOODSERVICE

Gold: AngusPure, Te Aroha (Angus), processed at Wilson Hellaby

Silver: AngusPure, Otorohanga (Angus), processed at Wilson Hellaby

Bronze: Cabernet Foods (Everton Dry Aged Beef), Carterton (Hereford), processed at Cabernet Foods