If you love delicious cheese like we do, you know it’s all about how great tasting it is when it’s perfectly ripe. That’s why we built our own environment that mimics Europe’s famed caves. Our state-of-the-art 12,300 sq. ft. building houses a dedicated room for Brie cheeses and seven “caves” where soft and washed-rind cheeses are nurtured to delicious ripeness. Several different kinds of cheeses can be ripened within the facility at a time, but they’re ripened in separate caves to keep their flavors distinct.
We start by sourcing the best artisan cheeses from near our stores and across the globe, then ripen and enhance them in our own Cheese Caves. Our Cheese Caves team, led by French native Mathieu Callol (meet Mathieu below), works to ensure every cheese is deliciously ripe and deeply flavorful. The carefully ripened cheese is only sent to our stores when it’s at its peak of perfection, so you can be confident any cheese you select is ready to enjoy. If you need any help choosing a cheese, our specially trained employees are on hand to help you discover one that’s “just ripe.”
An affineur is a French term for those who lead cheese to its peak of perfection, so it’s only natural that we sought out Mathieu Callol, a French native, to bring his passion and expertise to our Cheese Caves. Mathieu was born in Dijon, France, and obtained a master’s degree in dairy production and biotechnology from one of France’s most prestigious institutions. He spent several years honing his craft both as a research and development project manager and technician for renowned European cheese-making operations. His great connections with these important manufacturers will mean new sources of incredible cheeses for Wegmans.
This exclusive Wegmans washed-rind cheese is washed with sake (Japanese rice beer) as it ages in our own Cheese Caves. It’s creamy and smooth, with a unique, complex flavor that’s pungent and savory with milky-grassy notes. Recently, it won a bronze medal at the World Cheese Competition, a showcase for international cheeses from 42 nations. We love its one-of-a-kind taste, especially paired with savory-sweet Sopressata Dolce and crisp Crostini!