Photo: Photos supplied by Charlie's Gelato
Charlie's Gelato in Matakana has been scooping awards all year...but making gelato and sorbetto the way the Italians do it.
Situated on a 10 acre block outside of Matakana with a retail store in the front, the ice cream makes grow fruit on the land they then use to make the ice cream.
It is owned and operated by former Auckland retail workers Andrew Cole and Tania Nevill.
They made the move after a couple decades selling retail - mainly in menswear - something Andrew had always wanted to do, admittedly after watching too many rural television shows.
The gelatos and sorbettos are small batch, made 5 litres at time.
Everyday they have as many as 40 different batches on display in the shop.
And this year their passionfruit sorbetto took a prize at the NZ Ice Cream and Gelato awards.
They were also named Dairy Champion at the Outstanding Food Producer Awards earlier in the year.
