R.C.P.D.O Idiazabal
What is the R.C.P.D.O of Idiazabal’s Cheese?
The Regulatory Council of the Protected Denomination of Origin of Idiazabal’s Cheese was created on the 1st of October of 1.987 with two clear aims:
- Defend the interests of the shepherds and its autochthonous latxa and carranzana sheep races as well as those of the authentic cheeses of Idiazabal producers.
- Guarantee to the consumer its origin and quality authenticity.
Who belongs to it?
Nowadays the Denomination of Origin of Idiazabal’s Cheese has 500 inscribed stockbreeding and more than 100 cheese producers along the Basque Country and Navarre, excluding the Valley of Roncal zone. For a total of 7 million litres of milk, annually 1000 tones of cheese are produced by the total of the cheese producers mentioned. This means, that for elaborating an Idiazabal’s cheese about 7 litres of milk are needed.
What does the R.C.P.D.O of Idiazabal’s Cheese do?
The Regulatory Council pretends to control the origin and the making process used for Idiazabal’s cheeses with the aim of keep using the millenary habits and to be able to guarantee its qualities.
They control the making process, carrying out inspections, composition and, hygienic-sanitary and sensory controls, where an Official Taste Committee of the Denomination of Origin of Idiazabal Cheese analyzes all the cheeses that are going to carry the label that certifies them.
What does the D.O. Idiazabal’s cheese hallmark guarantees?
- Production zone: the zone of production will be exclusively in the Basque Country and Navarre (not including the Valley of the Roncal)
- Milks purity: it will only be able to use pure milk from latxa and carranzana sheep races, without mixing and pasteurizing it.
- Minimum ripening time: two moths will be the minimum ripening time.
- Minimum contents of fat: the minimum contents of fat will be of 45%.
- Sanitary controls: the cheese will have to overcome very rigorous sanitary controls.
- Identification of authenticity: the cheeses of the D.O. will have the rind numerated.
