Record-smashing Cabrales cheese fetches €36,000 at Spanish auction

In August this year, a record auction took place in the Spanish town of Arenas de Cabrales. In the 52-year history of the contest, which selects the best Cabrales, no cheese had ever been auctioned for such a substantial amount.

The Cabrales cheese auction in Arenas de Cabrales is one of Spain's oldest and most prestigious culinary events. In 2024, producers competed for the title of the best cheese for the 52nd time. After the contest, cheese auctions are conducted, and this year's will go down in history.

In 2024, the best Cabrales cheese was considered to be the product from the renowned Ángel Díaz Herrero cheese factory in Tielve, which won against fifteen other producers. The buyer of the best Cabrales cheese turned out to be Iván Suárez, the owner of the Llagar de Colloto restaurant.

Suárez paid an astonishing 36,000 euros (approximately 31,000 pounds) for a 2.5-kilogram wheel of cheese. This is a record amount in the 52-year tradition of the prestigious contest, which was also 12 times higher than the starting price and was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Cabrales is the jewel of Asturias and the most recognized blue cheese there, protected by a designation of origin since 1981. It is made from raw goat's, cow's, or sheep's milk and ages for months in the caves of the Picos de Europa, a mountain range in northern Spain. The unique conditions there promote the development of mould, which gives Cabrales its characteristic taste, appearance, and texture.

The winning cheese was produced by Ángel Díaz Herrero cheese factory. This family business, which has a long tradition, specialises in producing high-quality Cabrales cheese. Ángel Díaz Herrero has been crafting artisanal aged cheeses since 1985.