At the foothills of the Remutaka Ranges, in the south of the rural Wairarapa, C'est Cheese Artisan Cheese & Deli has been a destination for cheese lovers since opening in 2013. Housed in the historic Anderson Building (1875), the shop began with one aim: to showcase the amazing range of product handmade by New Zealand's specialist cheesemakers. Today it is the only vendor in the Wairarapa with a comprehensive range of New Zealand's handmade cheeses — and it proudly adds its own to the shelf, made on site at the business's very own cheese factory, Remutaka Pass Creamery, using organic cow milk.
The deli goes well beyond cheese. Shelves are stocked with other NZ-made artisan cheese, crackers, pastes and condiments, a great range of cured meats, pâté, parfait and terrine, and sweet treats, with a focus on supporting local and small producers from the Wairarapa and beyond. The effort has been recognised repeatedly: C'est Cheese was named NZ Top Cheese Store in 2019 and joint winner in 2020, 2021 and 2022/3.
The team prefer to think of themselves as matchmakers as much as cheesemongers — spending seven days a week with their cheeses and getting to know customers and what they like. For those further afield, an online store and national delivery service brings the deli to your door: order by midnight Sunday and orders are packed and sent the following Wednesday via urgent courier, with North Island urban delivery currently available.
At the foothills of the Remutaka Ranges, in the south of the rural Wairarapa, a small shop on Fitzherbert Street has become one of New Zealand's essential stops for cheese lovers. C'est Cheese Artisan Cheese & Deli opened in 2013 with a single aim — to showcase the amazing range of product handmade by New Zealand's specialist cheesemakers. More than a decade on, it has grown into a deli, an online store and, uniquely, the home of its very own cheese factory: Remutaka Pass Creamery.
C'est Cheese is housed in the historic Anderson Building, which dates back to 1875. Step inside and you'll find the cheese and deli section alongside the creamery, where the team makes cheese under the Remutaka Pass Creamery label using organic cow milk. The goal is a complete cheese experience: watch it being made, then purchase cheese from the award-winning deli out front.
The deli holds a distinction worth knowing — C'est Cheese is the only vendor in the Wairarapa with a comprehensive range of New Zealand's handmade cheeses. Its own Remutaka Pass Creamery cheeses sit alongside selections from other specialist makers across the country, and the accolades have followed: NZ Top Cheese Store in 2019, then joint winner in 2020, 2021 and 2022/3.
While cheese is the heart of the business, the team is equally passionate about New Zealand's artisan food producers, be they from the fabulous Wairarapa or beyond. The deli strives to stock quality local product and support small businesses wherever possible. Alongside the cheese you'll find crackers, pastes and condiments; a great range of cured meats, pâté, parfait and terrine; and sweet treats to finish.
The cured meat cabinet rewards a closer look. From Blackball Salami on the West Coast come sliced Italian salami, garlic salami, venison garlic salami, original pepperoni and venison pepperoni, each in 100g packs. Hungarian Artisan Co of Tauranga contributes an 80g sliced porcini mushroom and truffle salami and a spicy Hungarian paprika salami, known as kolbász. Together they make short work of building a board at home.
A crucial part of the business is the staff — some call them cheesemongers, and they spend seven days a week with their cheeses. Just as importantly, they love getting to know customers and what they like, which is why the team prefers to think of itself as matchmakers. If you can't find what you're looking for in the online store, they invite you to get in touch — they'll make every effort to source it, using their best matchmaking powers.
That online store and national delivery service is the newest chapter for the business. The range covers the shop's own creamery cheese, more NZ-made cheese, crackers and condiments, cured meats and pâté, sweets, and a monthly cheese subscription box for a regular delivery of New Zealand cheese.
Ordering online is straightforward, with one key deadline: order by midnight Sunday for delivery the following week. Orders are packed and sent on a Wednesday via urgent courier. Note that delivery is currently North Island urban only — no rural addresses.
In person, the shop keeps generous hours: Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Fridays until 6.00pm, and weekends from 9.00am, closing at 5.30pm. You'll find C'est Cheese at 19 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston, in the heart of the Wairarapa — an easy stop on a Wairarapa day trip and a worthy pilgrimage for anyone serious about New Zealand cheese. Whether you leave with a wedge of Remutaka Pass Creamery cheese, a slice of Blackball salami or a subscription box on its way to your door, you'll be taking home a genuine taste of NZ artisan food culture.