Il Fiorino brings the Maremma to the top of the world. Eleven medals at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards: Pecorino Toscano DOP triumphs, and the new Poderi d’Amiata line makes its debut on the international podium
There are places that don’t need to raise their voices to be recognized. They speak through their landscapes, their people, and their flavors. The Maremma is one such place: rugged and bountiful, authentic and profound.
And today, once again, its name takes center stage on the international scene thanks to Caseificio Il Fiorino, a Maremma-based dairy that returns from the International Cheese & Dairy Awards in Staffordshire with an extraordinary result: eleven medals—including gold, silver, and bronze.
This list of achievements is not merely a tally of awards, but the story of a solid, consistent production identity built over time. The International Cheese & Dairy Awards, founded in 1897 and judged annually by over 250 international experts, represent one of the oldest and most prestigious dairy competitions in the world.
Against this backdrop, Il Fiorino once again confirms the strength of a journey rooted in quality, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to the local territory.
The undisputed star of this edition is the Aged Pecorino Toscano DOP, which was awarded the gold medal in the category for sheep’s-milk cheeses without additives. This recognition holds special significance, as Pecorino Toscano DOP has always been one of the most authentic symbols of Il Fiorino’s production. It is the cheese in which the company—ever since its founder, Duilio Fiorini—has believed wholeheartedly, recognizing its ability to embody the region, tradition, and artisanal expertise.
For Angela Fiorini and Simone Sargentoni, who now lead the company, this new award represents a profound source of satisfaction: the confirmation that a vision built with patience, respect, and consistency can speak to the world without losing touch with its roots.
But this edition also marks an important debut: that of Poderi d’Amiata, the new line from Il Fiorino, created to celebrate the deepest connection to Mount Amiata and the rural spirit of the Maremma. Making its international debut, the line immediately won three awards: silver for Pecorino with Truffle, bronze for Pecorino with Chili Pepper, and bronze for Pecorino di Caverna.
It’s a debut that stands as a promise fulfilled. Poderi d’Amiata was, in fact, created to highlight select raw materials, artisanal production methods, and a narrative of the region that unfolds through taste, memory, and identity. Its immediate success confirms that true excellence, when authentic, resonates even beyond local borders.
“Every medal we bring home,” emphasize Angela Fiorini and Simone Sargentoni, “is the result of daily work that often goes unseen: the selection of milk, respect for natural processes, and attention to craftsmanship. It is work that requires patience and dedication, because certain processes cannot be rushed, and it stems from a deep love for our region—for the Maremma that gives us our identity, character, and inspiration every day.”
These words aptly capture the philosophy of Il Fiorino: to produce cheese not merely as a technical achievement, but as an act of loyalty to the land. Because behind every wheel of cheese lie seasons, hands, waiting, and choices. There is a wisdom that cannot be improvised and a quality that emerges only when time is respected.
The list of awards confirms the richness of the company’s entire production. In addition to the gold medal for the Aged Pecorino Toscano DOP, the Organic Cacio di Venere with Truffle won the gold medal among the best organic sheep’s-milk cheeses and also a bronze medal in the category dedicated to organic hard cheeses with a territorial identity. Among the silver medal winners are the Pecorino with Truffle Poderi d’Amiata, the Pecorino Toscano DOP del Tratturo, and the Fior di Natura Organic Semi-Aged with Vegetable Rennet. Rounding out the awards are bronze medals for the Riserva del Fondatore Special Edition, the Pecorino con Peperoncino Poderi d’Amiata, and the Pecorino di Caverna Poderi d’Amiata. Further enhancing the results, the Fiorin Blu, a blue-veined sheep’s milk pecorino, won the gold medal in its category.
PDO, organic, aged cheeses, flavored specialties, new regional lines: each award highlights a different facet of the same production philosophy. That of a company that, in nearly seventy years, has managed to grow without losing its essence, innovate without sacrificing its history, and bring the Maremma to the world while remaining deeply faithful to its origins.
With these awards, Il Fiorino reaffirms its place among Italy’s most internationally acclaimed cheese producers. But above all, it confirms that excellence is never a matter of chance. It is a daily choice. It is care. It is patience. It is a sense of belonging.
And when a land is truly listened to, it still knows how to produce wonders. Even in the form of cheese.
