2026 Leefield Station Supreme Champion Monty & Sons
Italians may bleed ragu but almost everyone can agree there’s something quietly satisfying about a good bowl of pasta. The kind that doesn’t need much more than olive oil, salt, and a seat at the table. For this year’s Leefield Station Supreme Champion Monty & Sons Radiatori Pasta simplicity is exactly the point.
Founded by Monty and Jess Petrie, the South Wairarapa company was born from Monty’s disillusion with large-scale industrial farming. Motivated by a desire to provide honest food for their two sons and to ensure New Zealand consumers can access the country’s best produce, they launched an artisan pasta brand prioritising regenerative agriculture and soil health.
Outstanding Food Producer Awards Head Judge, Peter Gordon said; “In choosing Monty & Sons Radiatori as the Leefield Station Supreme Champion, it all came down to something simple – how it tasted.”
“Monty & Sons Radiatori has a delicious nuttiness, is easily digested, and comes with a fantastic light ‘chew’. To really understand the pasta, the judges and I tried it initially with a light drizzle of olive oil and salt, and then just boiled with nothing added. Most of the pasta’s character comes from the Wairarapa Grains Collective durum wheat, which is grown with regenerative farming practices. The various pasta shapes are terrific and the branding is spot on, fun and informative. Our favourite shape of the four entries was their Radiatori, ” Peter Gordon said.
Monty & Sons Radiatori was also Farro Earth Champion with the judges notes saying, ‘Holds shape perfectly and has a great bite which expands beautifully when cooked, it will hold lots of sauce. Love the mouthfeel and texture. We can taste the locally grown wheat.’
Each of the four Monty & Sons Pastas were all 2026 OFPA Farro Earth Gold Medal winners;
Monty & Sons Short Rigatoni
Monty & Sons Trumpet
Monty & Sons Fusilli
Monty & Sons Radiatori
Across the range, Monty’s attention to detail is consistent. The Fusilli expands beautifully and holds sauce with ease, while the Short Rigatoni delivers a satisfying bite and even texture. The Trumpet shape stands out for its innovation, holding its structure during cooking while showcasing the flavour of the grain. And the award-winning Radiatori - a standout for the judges - balances texture, structure, and flavour in every bite.
Monty & Sons pasta begins in the paddocks of Wairarapa, thanks to the Wairarapa Grains Collective, a group of farmers who proved ancient durum wheat thrived in Wairarapa’s hot, dry summers. The Collective’s durum wheat is cultivated using regenerative farming practices that prioritise soil health, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability.
Beyond texture and taste, Monty & Sons is part of a bigger shift in how food is produced. By sourcing grain locally and keeping production close to home, the business reduces transport emissions and supports regional supply chains. Processing is kept deliberately minimal, using traditional bronze dies and slow drying techniques to preserve the pasta flavour and nutritional integrity.
Sustainability extends beyond the pasta. Packaging is almost entirely plastic-free, using paper-based materials with compostable elements. Where plastic is still required, recycled materials are used - a small but considered step toward reducing environmental impact.
As a small, Wairarapa-owned business, Monty & Sons places strong emphasis on community. Built on a profit-for-purpose model, the company aims to create meaningful local employment while supporting initiatives like Everybody Eats - donating pasta to help provide meals for those in need while tackling food insecurity and wastage head-on.
After starting in 2025 as a boutique operation supplying subscription boxes and refilleries, at the beginning of this year Monty & Sons ticked up a gear, supplying Moore Wilson's, Farro and specialty retailers across Aotearoa. Their production process remains intentionally slow, using traditional bronze extruders to create a sauce-gripping pasta texture and air-drying the shapes for up to 24 hours.
Learn more about Monty & Son’s here.