Wegmans marked a significant milestone this year – celebrating the 10th anniversary of our state-of-the-art cheese caves in Rochester, New York. More than a decade ago, we embarked on a journey to offer our customers the freshest and most flavorful cave-ripened cheeses by mimicking Europe’s famed cheese caves right here in the United States. 

It all began with a simple question: “How can we provide our customers with fresher cave-ripened cheeses?” The answer led to the creation of a 12,300-sq.-ft. facility dedicated to the art of affinage—the careful ripening and nurturing of cheese to perfection. Under the expert guidance of cheese affineur Mathieu Callol, Wegmans’ cheese caves have become a hub of artisanal excellence. 

“He has taken all the cheeses, including our bries, that flow through the caves to a whole new level,” says Cathy Gaffney, vice president of cheese and deli. “The whole cave team works really hard to bring perfect cheeses to our stores and customers.” 

Each cheese in Wegmans’ caves is treated with the utmost care, turned, brushed, and washed to develop unique flavors and textures. The facility includes a dedicated room for Brie and seven other rooms for various soft and washed-rind cheeses, each with its own climate control to ensure the perfect ripening environment.  

The result of this meticulous process is a variety of exclusive and award-winning cheeses. This year, four of our world-class cheeses received top awards at the annual American Cheese Society conference in July. These include gold for our 1916 and Truffle Shuffle aged goat cheeses, and bronze for our Sweet 16 and We Be Chivin’ aged goat cheeses. These cheeses are not only a testament to Wegmans’ commitment to quality, but also a celebration of our partnerships with local cheesemakers and dairy farmers, who provide the raw/green cheeses to be aged and ripened in the caves.  

The caves are certainly key in making great cheeses, but it really is our people who make enjoying our cheese an unforgettable experience. From the caves to the merchandisers to the stores, they all play an integral role in making sure our cheeses are delicious, accessible, and enjoyable for our customers. We asked a few of them what they enjoy most about being part of the Wegmans Cheese team. 

“I am so grateful for everything I have learned about cheese over the last 10 years at Wegmans. I love that I get to talk about cheeses all the time. The fact that I get to educate the customers about our cheeses is probably my favorite part of the job.” Meg, Burlington, Massachusetts 

“One of my favorite things about cheese is helping people experience things they had when traveling around the world or if they have just moved here. They are always surprised that we have our own caves and amazed by the flavors and varieties we offer.” Suzanne, Buffalo New York 

“What I am most proud of is our quality and how it has improved over the past 10 years. We know our customers really enjoy our cheese, so to watch them win awards is the icing on the cake.” Nicole, Rochester, New York 

As Wegmans looks to the future, our goal remains the same: to provide customers with exceptional cheeses that elevate any culinary experience. Whether you’re a cheese aficionado or simply looking for the perfect addition to your meal, Wegmans’ cheese caves promise a selection that is ripe with possibility.