In Arenas de Cabrales on Sunday, the record sum of €37,500 was raised for the year’s best Cabrales cheese. The winning bid at the 54th edition of the Certamen del Queso Cabrales went to the restaurant La Montera Picona from Gijón, which, according to the organisers, is sharing the purchase with three businesses from Madrid: Carlos Tartiere, Lo de Viole and Sidrería La Cuenca.
The item auctioned came from Quesería Ángel Díaz Herrero from Tielve. The jury had named the dairy the winner of the quality competition for the third year running. According to the organisers, the cheese weighed more than two kilograms and had matured for nine months in natural caves in Picos de Europa. A total of 14 producers took part.
The sum of 37,500 euros exceeded last year's figure of 37,000 euros. The organisers describe it as a sixth consecutive record year. They also point out that the auction traditionally attracts international attention to the protected cheese from Asturias. An entry in Guinness World Records was again expected given the sum achieved; formal confirmation was not available on Sunday at the time.
The jury assessed the cheeses submitted against criteria such as texture, aroma, maturity in the caves and artisanal production. The winning cheese from Quesería Ángel Díaz Herrero was made in Tielve, a village in the municipality of Cabrales, known for its ageing cellars in the limestone massif of the Picos de Europa. The organisers of the Certamen highlighted the auction's benefits for the regional value chain, from dairy farms to the hospitality sector, and for tourism in Asturias.
The Certamen del Queso Cabrales traditionally takes place on the last Sunday in August in Arenas de Cabrales. It includes a quality assessment by expert judges, the selection of the best Cabrales and the subsequent auction of the winning cheese. The competition is regarded as a showcase for the region's cheese culture and a platform for artisanal production, which is strictly regulated and remains tied to ageing in natural caves.
After winning the auction, La Montera Picona announced that it would showcase the cheese at its restaurant in Gijón. The participating Madrid restaurants also intend to offer their customers portions of the cheese. Details of how it would be divided had not initially been released.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).