The participation of the Consortium for the Protection of Gorgonzola Pdo Cheese at ANUGA, an international food and wine fair that took place in Cologne, Germany, from October 7 to 11, ended with an excellent response. The Consortium was the protagonist, together with the group AFIDOP Italian PDO Cheese Association, of a three-day show-cooking, tasting and wine pairing event that also saw a visit from Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, as well as operators and buyers from all over the world.
An impressive presence that underscores the importance that the German market holds for the Italian dairy industry: in fact, in the first half of 2023, denomination cheeses registered a 25% growth in value, thanks to a total turnover of 262 million euros. “Data testify to the growing success of Italian cheeses with the German public. With more than 23,400 tons exported in the first half of 2023, equal to 19% of our exports worldwide – said Afidop President Antonio Auricchio, also President of the Gorgonzola Consortium, “Germany represents our second market in Europe after France. A market in which we want to continue to invest, also because of the value that the German people attribute to our Pdo cheeses, which account for more than half (56%) of our dairy exports to Germany. Anuga in this sense is the ideal promotional stage for our productions, which remain a cornerstone of the agrifood chain and the Mediterranean diet.”
It started with a cooking show by Italian chef Domenico Gentile, well known in Germany, who made a Savory Pie with Potatoes and Gorgonzola Pdo (in the picture) revealing to visitors the secrets of Italian cuisine. The next day, journalist and delegate of the Italian Academy of Cuisine in Frankfurt, Laura Melara-Dürbeck, led the audience on a fascinating journey to discover the history and culture of Italian PDO cheeses and their important role in the Italian gastronomic scene and in the Mediterranean Diet. On the third day, renowned sommelier Claudia Stern, a member of the Sommelier Union Germany, presented interesting pairings between the best Italian wines and PDO cheeses for a complete sensory experience for German and international operators.
Finally, every day during lunchtime, tastings were organized by the team of the Italian Chefs Association in Germany under the leadership of their President and Chef Gianluca Casini.
