Live food demonstrations, tastings, pairing tastings and gastronomic workshops with cheese as the common denominator are among the activities planned for the VII Montanejos Artisan Cheese Fair. In this edition, artisan dairy farms from the Valencian Community take the spotlight, while guest dairy farms from other regions also participate.
All will be part of an artisan cheese market with stands open from 11 am to 8 pm. An extensive program of activities unfolds on both Saturday and Sunday, offering visitors the chance to taste and purchase cheeses at the Espacio Castelló Ruta de Sabor in Villa Purificación. Live cooking demonstrations, pairing tastings and workshops that require prior registration will enrich the weekend experience.
Live cooking demonstrations, tastings, pairing tastings and gastronomic workshops with cheese as the common denominator
As a novelty this edition will introduce a cashless payment system. Attendees will use a digital wristband for tastings, aiming to streamline the fair and ensure guests can enjoy Valencian Community cheese, wines, and events with maximum comfort.
for the best cheese
The fair will host the Valencian Community Artisan Cheese Contest, a tradition organized in collaboration with the Community Craft Center. Eight awards will be handed out for the best cheeses in categories such as Fermented and Curd Cheese, Fresh Cheese, Lactic or Mixed Coagulation Cheese, Pressed Goat Cheese, Pressed Sheep Cheese, Pressed Cow Cheese, Blue Cheese, and Valencia Community Best Cheese. The prizes will be awarded on Sunday, October 2 at 16:00. The contest highlights the diversity, richness and personality of Valencian artisan cheeses and provides consumers with a clear recognition of quality. A jury of experts will evaluate the offerings, with the results announced in the coming weeks.
This year, thirteen dairies from the Valencian Community will participate:
– Sereix (Mutxamel, Alicante)
– Masia Els Masets (Torre d’en Besora, Castellón)
– Corrales (Almedixer, Castellón)
– Lactic Art (Chiva, Valencia)
– Camp d’Elx Dairy Farm (Elche, Alicante)
– Cati Cheeses (Catí, Castellón)
– Morella’s Shepherd (Morella, Castellón)
– Mills (Monóvar, Alicante)
– Farm El Parral (Barxeta, Valencia)
– Church Hole (Requena, Valencia)
– Rinya Farm (Albal, Valencia)
– San Antonio (Callosa d’en Sarrià, Alicante)
– Tot de Poble (Les Coves de Vinromà, Castellón)
And as guest dairies:
– Cerrón Cheeses (Alamo Fountain, Albacete)
– Cerrucos de Bleeding (Los Navalucillos, Toledo)
– Mas Claperol (Sant Feliu de Pallerols, Girona)
– Land of Mud (Villafranca de los Barros, Badajoz)
– Gaia Gourmets (Galicia)
– Crazy Manglano (Valencia)
The dairy line is complemented by wines from PROAVA, Cooperativa de Viver and Alcoví winery, oils from Cooperativa de Altura, La Vidigonera craft beer from Montanejos and water from Cortes de Arenoso.
Show cooking, tastings and much more
A cooking show is scheduled for 13:00 on Saturday, featuring Castelló Ruta de Sabor products with chef Daniel García Peinado, the official chef of the Spanish Football Team and captain of the Spanish Professional Cuisine Team, and executive chef at the La Cala Resort restaurant in Mijas. At 18:00 a pairing tasting of artisanal cheeses and wines, Castellón IGP with PROAVA, will be led by sommelier David Remolar, president of the Valencian Sommeliers Federation, who also trains sommeliers at CDT and teaches in Valencia DO programs.
On Sunday at 13:00 there will be a paired tasting of extra virgin olive oil with David Remolar, and at 18:30 a show on how to cook artisan cheeses, EVOO, truffles and wines from Castellón PGI by PROAVA with chef José Manuel López Iglesias from the restaurant Peix i Brases, a 1 Michelin star and 2 Repsol suns establishment in Denia. All events take place at the Espacio Castelló Ruta de Sabor in Villa Purificación.
Quality and professionalism
There will be a broader technical program for a professional audience as part of the Montanejos Artisan Cheese Fair, including the III Conference on Artisan Cheese and the Promotion of Valencia Dairy Farming. The event is freely accessible and promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition.
VII Montanejos Artisan Cheese Fair is supported by the Montanejos City Council, Montanejos Tourism Foundation, Castellón Provincial Council, Castelló Ruta de Sabor, Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, L’Exquisit Mediterrani, Agricultural Advisory, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition, and Sustainable Economy, Productive Industries, Department of Commerce and Labor. It has the backing of the Valencia Community Cheese Producers Association, Red Española de Ciudades y Pueblos de Queso Artesano, and the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
More information
Dates: Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend in October.
Check the schedule for this seventh edition here.