This year's edition, taking place on May 2nd and 3rd, will offer an extensive program including cheese and mamia championships, demonstrations, and entertainment. Organizers have highlighted that, in addition to twelve cheeses with the Idiazabal designation of origin, products from four other dairies in the Basque Country, made with goat and sheep milk, will also be available for tasting.
There will also be an international presence, with members of the European Cheese Route attending from places like Cáceres, Valladolid, Cádiz, Menorca, Lugo, Ourense, and Badajoz, offering the opportunity to sample foreign cheeses.
“"This year, for the first time, there will be a cheese and sake pairing on May 2nd. As part of the European Cheese Route association, we are in contact with the Japanese embassy. A meeting was held and was very successful, and we have decided to bring it to Idiazabal. We will see how it works."
Among the novelties, the cheese and sake pairing on May 2nd stands out, resulting from the relationship between the European Cheese Route association and the Japanese embassy. Furthermore, the Baztarrika dairy will offer lamb burgers on Saturday evening and Sunday at noon.
In addition to cheese and artisan stalls, there will be beverage stands, offering wines from two winemakers from Rioja Alavesa, txakoli with the Getaria designation of origin, cider, and beer from the Basque Country. Activities for the whole family have also been organized, such as popular mamia and cheese championships, demonstrations, children's games, and street entertainment. The sheep parade and wool shearing demonstrations will also be featured.
One of the most important events of the fair is the popular cheese tasting, organized by the Artzai Gazta association. Participants will be able to learn the criteria for evaluating cheeses and give their opinion. This year, a tribute will be paid to a shepherd who passed away in June, whose family, through the Elosegi dairy, keeps the tradition alive.
“"The Idiazabal Cheese fair is much more than the celebration of a fair. It is an occasion to celebrate our identity, our shared history, and a way of life deeply rooted in our land."
A representative from the Provincial Council emphasized that Idiazabal Cheese is not just a product, but a reflection of Gipuzkoa's identity and a way of understanding life. Although this cheese has reached markets worldwide, including the USA, England, Mexico, Japan, and Germany, its essence, the tradition derived from the raw milk of Latxa sheep, remains. The fair, therefore, serves to highlight this tradition and make the work of the shepherds visible.
