Kunik Strikes Again: Nettle Meadow’s Star Cheese Brings Home Another International Win
Lake George area fromagerie adds to it’s long list of awards.
Nettle Meadow’s delectable Kunik. All photos courtesy Nettle Meadow.
If you’ve spent any time eating your way through the Southern Adirondacks, you already know: Nettle Meadow Farm & Cheese Company doesn’t miss. Their handcrafted cheeses consistently sweep national and international competitions — and now their legendary Kunik has done it again, earning a Bronze Medal at the 2025 World Cheese Awards in Bern, Switzerland.
This latest honor adds to an overflowing trophy case (more than 60 awards over the last two decades), a testament to Nettle Meadow's unwavering commitment to quality and excellence, proving once more that world-class cheese is being made right here in the Adirondacks.
Kunik is still the queen of the cheese world.
Nettle Meadow’s award-winning cheeses.
The award-winning Kunik — a dreamy blend of goat’s milk and Jersey cow cream — has been Nettle Meadow’s flagship star since the early 2000s. But what’s remarkable is not just how good it is… It's how consistently it wins.
In 2025 alone:
Kunik took First Place at the American Cheese Society Competition
Honey Lavender Fromage Blanc earned First Place
Three Sisters, their three-milk semi-aged beauty, took Third Place
Kunik is a cheese that refuses to retire from the spotlight. As owner and head cheesemaker, Sheila Flanagan puts it, “It has been nearly 20 years since Kunik won its first ACS award, and it still keeps on winning!”
A season of accolades — and a meaningful new honor
Beyond this Swiss win, Nettle Meadow also earned the first-ever Shepherd Badge of Honor at the Cheesemonger’s Invitational in Long Island City. This award recognizes their decades-long commitment to exceptional herd care — a philosophy you can taste in every wheel they make.
Over the years, the farm has also taken home gold from:
World Cheese Championships
New York International Cheese Championships (including a Double Gold)
Good Food Awards
And it’s not just Kunik raking in the medals. Their international gold list also includes Truffle Kunik, Sugar Loaf, Briar Summit, Sappy Ewe, and Slate Ridge — a lineup that reads like a “greatest hits” album of Adirondack artisan cheese.
From humble goat farm to Adirondack culinary powerhouse
Founded in 1990 in Thurman, Nettle Meadow started as a small goat farm with a dream and an exceptional work ethic. Today, it has evolved into:
A thriving artisan creamery
A beloved farm sanctuary
A bustling cheese plant inside the historic Hitching Post in Lake Luzerne
An expanded retail shop and the Hitching Post Restaurant & Tavern
Nettle Meadow’s philosophy has stayed consistent through it all: Natural ingredients, healthy animals, and small-batch cheese-making.
Visitors can taste the results for themselves year-round. Both the Thurman farm and the Lake Luzerne shop are open daily from 10 am to 4 pm, and the Hitching Post Restaurant serves lunch and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays — ideal for pairing their cheeses with hearty Adirondack comfort food.
The farm offers unique experiences such as cheese-making demonstrations, animal interactions, and scenic farm tours, making it a perfect destination for a day trip or a weekend getaway.
Why Nettle Meadow remains an Adirondack must-visit.
Whether you’re a cheese devotee, a curious traveler working your way through the region’s culinary stops, or someone who loves supporting local artisans, Nettle Meadow offers something special:
And with another international medal now in hand, their story — and their cheeses — continue to elevate the Adirondacks’ food scene on a global stage. These awards not only bring recognition to Nettle Meadow but also spotlight the Adirondack region as a hub of artisanal cheese production, making it a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.
It’s no wonder ADK Taste readers adore them…and why we’re excited to welcome them soon to an upcoming episode of ADK Talks (date TBD, but trust us — we’re on it).
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