Great success for the second edition of the Festa della Cinta Senese DOP: two days dedicated to one of the most authentic treasures of Tuscan gastronomy transformed Siena into a stage for sensory experiences, encounters, and landscapes.
The second edition of the Festa della Cinta Senese DOP, organized by the Consorzio di Tutela, celebrated Tuscany’s oldest and most distinctive breed of pig with a program packed with events, including trekking, masterclasses, and the 2nd International Ham Cutting Competition.
An icon of the region
Cinta Senese DOP is a symbol of rural Tuscany: an ancient native breed of pig, still raised today in a semi-wild state among the hills and oak woods. Its black coat crossed by a white stripe — the “cinta” — makes it unmistakable, as does the quality of its meat, rich in aroma and noble fat.
Outdoor breeding, combined with strict regulations and a controlled supply chain, makes it a product that is not only gastronomic, but also cultural, environmental, and symbolic.
“With this second edition, we want to raise awareness of an extraordinary product such as Cinta Senese DOP,” explains Nicolò Savigni, President of the Consortium. “It is an opportunity to bring together farmers, artisans, chefs, and enthusiasts, showcasing a supply chain that is the identity and future of our region.”
Sunday, October 26 — Trekking del gusto
The first day took the public through hills and woods with the Trekking della Cinta Senese DOP, hosted by some of the supply chain’s most iconic farms: Simignano di Bezzini Cristina (Sovicille), Tenuta di Spannocchia (Chiusdino), Fattoria Vignamaggio (Greve in Chianti) and Azienda Agricola Savigni – Fattoria Bonaria (Pistoia).
It was an opportunity to see the farms up close, meet the farmers, and taste the products in their places of origin.
Hundreds of participants—including families, tourists, and food lovers—walked through unspoiled landscapes, discovering how Cinta Senese helps keep alive an agricultural tradition that respects the land and animals.
Monday, October 27 – The Enoteca Italiana in Siena becomes the heart of the festival
The following day, inside the Fortezza Medicea, the Enoteca Italiana in Siena hosted masterclasses, talks, and the prestigious international cutting competition.
The Cinta Senese DOP Masterclass, curated by Nicolò Savigni in collaboration with ANCJ and Jamón Lovers, offered operators a high-level training lesson dedicated to the supply chain, tasting, and the art of ham cutting.
The demonstration was led by Pedro José Pérez Casco, head of ANCJ training, together with Miriam López Ortega (Jamón Lovers) and Mirko Giannella, award-winning cortador and first foreigner to qualify for the final of the 2026 Spanish Championship.
Through slow, precise, and choreographed movements, the masters showed how manual cutting transforms ham into a sensory experience, where each slice conveys balance, respect, and time.
Dialogues of taste
Next, the Talk moderated by Davide Paolini, with Alessandro Frassica and Edoardo Tilli, explored how Cinta Senese pork can play a leading role in contemporary cuisine, from artisan shops to gourmet tables.
“As a native of Siena, attending an event that promotes such an iconic element of our territory fills me with pride,” said Vanna Giunti, Councilor for Tourism of the Municipality of Siena. “Cinta Senese is depicted in Lorenzetti’s Good Government: a symbol of our memory that today becomes a bridge to the future.”
The International Cutting Competition: the art of the cortadores
The most eagerly awaited moment of the Festival was the 2nd International Cinta Senese PDO Ham Cutting Competition, organized in collaboration with the ANCJ (Asociación Nacional de Cortadores de Jamón) and Jamón Lovers.
Six international-level cortadores competed on stage — Daniel Sanchez Cambres, Brigida Castelli, Claudio Cialini, Laura Rey Padín, Alexander Lozano Rodriguez, and Olivia Montserrat Susañó — to interpret, through their knives, the very essence of Cinta Senese.
The large and attentive audience was able to follow the competition on big screens installed outside the Enoteca Italiana, where every cut, every slice, became a gesture of art and precision.
The jury evaluated technique, style, and creativity, awarding the following prizes:
- 1st place and Best Overall Plating: Alexander Lozano Rodriguez, awarded by Elena D’Aquanno, President of Enoteca Italiana.
- 2nd place: Brigida Castelli, awarded by Vanna Giunti and Marta Cappelli.
- 3rd place: Daniel Sanchez Cambres, awarded by Massimo Guasconi, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Siena and Arezzo.
- Best Creative Dish: Laura Rey Padín, awarded by the Commander of the Carabinieri for Biodiversity Alessio Brogi.
- Award in memory of Raymond Lamothe, historic President of the Consortium, presented by Nicolò Savigni and accepted by Massimo Guido of the Casamonti company.
“It was an extraordinary competition,” commented Stefania Saccardi, Councilor for Agriculture of the Tuscany Region. “A contest between true artists who were able to enhance a product that was at risk of extinction and is now a symbol of rebirth.”
A festival that combines tradition and the future
The day ended with a convivial moment of tasting, in the company of local businesses and examples of local craftsmanship excellence.
It was an opportunity to celebrate together the value of authentic food, transparent supply chains, and Tuscan beauty.
“We are already working on the next edition,” said Savigni. “The goal is to make the festival increasingly international, continuing to promote Cinta Senese DOP as an ambassador of Tuscan taste and landscape around the world.”
Cinta Senese DOP: the taste of the land, the art of cutting
In the elegant gestures of the cortadores, in the slow pace of trekking through the farms, in the aromas of cured meats and in the silence of the woods, Cinta Senese tells the story of the most authentic Tuscany: a balance of beauty, wisdom, and time.
A meat that preserves the memory of its land, and a festival that celebrates the art of those who, with a sharp blade or a slow walk in the woods, still know how to give it a voice.
Info: Consorzio di Tutela della Cinta Senese DOP
📍 www.cintasenesedop.it – ✉️ info@cintasenesedop.it
