Murray's Cheese Wins Big at the American Cheese Society Annual Conference; Nick Tranchina Comments

Murray's Cheese has long been a fixture of over 1,000 Kroger stores, bringing a unique edge to the specialty department. It was recently announced that the company's Cave Aged Cheese line received five awards at the American Cheese Society annual conference.

"Through our cave aged program, we create exclusive cheeses in collaboration with several wonderful creameries and cheesemakers," said Nick Tranchina, President of Murray's Cheese. "With months or even years of research and development, our team develops new flavors using proprietary aging techniques in our temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms. We are especially proud to be recognized by the American Cheese Society for our latest project, Carpenter's Wheel, debuting in October. Additionally, Stockinghall Cheddar continues to be awarded and is building a following as the Murray's Cave Aged cheese available in many Kroger shops nationally."

Murray's proprietary Cave Aged cheeses are developed by a team of talented affineurs taking unmatured wheels from top creameries and crafting them into original creations not found anywhere else in the world, a press release explained

The Murray's Cave Aged Cheese line award-winners honored by the American Cheese Society include:

• Second Place - Cave Aged Reserve Greensward; Soft-ripened washed rind category: A unique spruce-wrapped round made by the Cellars at Jasper Hill in Vermont and aged in the Murray's caves
• Second Place - Cave Aged Reserve Hudson Flower; Soft-ripened with flavor added – all milks category: Young wheels of sheep's milk cheese from New York's Old Chatham Creamery are coated in the Murray's caves with a blend of rosemary, lemon thyme, chervil, and hop flowers
• Second Place - Cave Aged Original Stockinghall Cheddar; Cheddar wrapped in cloth, linen with a natural rind – aged through 12 months – all milks category: Cheddar wheels are made at Old Chatham Creamery; Murray's caves team wraps them in cloth and ages them for a year
• Second Place - Cave Aged Original Buttermilk Basque; Sheep's milk cheese aged 31 to 60 days category: A rich, buttery cheese inspired by traditional Basque cheese, made in collaboration with Old Chatham Creamery with an original recipe developed by the Murray's caves team
• Third Place - Carpenter's Wheel (coming this fall); Goat's milk cheese aged over 60 days category: This alpine-style goat's milk cheese is a collaboration with FireFly Farms in Maryland

Congratulations to Murray's on the wins!