High quality meats
Bresaola della Valtellina PGI is a typical, unique, and inimitable product, now guaranteed by the EU’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) mark. Its secret lies in the valley’s unique climate and in a production process that, thanks to a tradition over a century old, has become a true ritual, passed down from father to son with passion and professionalism.
The ability to select the finest cuts from adult cattle, the skill in trimming, the expert blending of natural spices, the massaging of the meat during salting, and the precise variations in temperature and humidity during curing—these are processes rooted in the secrets of ancient recipes, which today still represent the heritage of a culture written into local tradition.
What does “quality raw material” mean to the producers of Bresaola della Valtellina PGI?
Among the elements that make Bresaola della Valtellina PGI unique and inimitable, the quality of the meat used stands out. In Valtellina, we choose only the best: high-quality, safe, and certified meats. What truly makes the difference is the quality of the raw material—not necessarily its origin or whether the meat comes from cattle raised in the valley.
In fact, only top-grade cuts are used to produce Bresaola della Valtellina PGI—specifically, the finest and most tender parts taken exclusively from the haunches of carefully selected cattle breeds, no younger than 18 months, preferably raised outdoors on pasture and fed with selected feed.
This is a quality choice because all these factors contribute to ensuring superior meat, both from an organoleptic standpoint (e.g., consistency, tenderness, flavor, color, leanness, and absence of connective tissue) and a nutritional one (e.g., lower fat content).
Where does the meat used for Bresaola della Valtellina PGI come from?
For this reason, producers who are members of the Consortium primarily use meat sourced from farms in Europe and South America, where the farming systems and controls at all stages of the supply chain ensure meat that meets the high-quality standards required for producing Bresaola della Valtellina PGI.
Resorting to imported meat is necessary because Italy does not have enough cattle to simultaneously meet both the quality and quantity demands of Bresaola della Valtellina PGI production.
It’s important to clarify that this choice is not driven by economic reasons—on the contrary, the meat used for Bresaola della Valtellina PGI generally costs significantly more than other beef cuts, precisely because of its intrinsic compositional and organoleptic qualities, which depend on the methods of rearing, the animal’s diet, and the environmental conditions in which it was raised.
The selection of meat destined to become Bresaola della Valtellina PGI is based solely on a clear focus on quality and the search for the best raw materials available. The producers’ goal is to create a top-quality finished product, as defined by the official Production Specification.
PGI certification ensures strict and continuous controls on raw materials and the entire production process.
To further ensure consumer safety, the raw material used to produce Bresaola della Valtellina PGI undergoes systematic checks and laboratory tests. It must be accompanied by certifications that confirm its origin, traceability, and hygienic-sanitary safety.
Finally, the PGI mark guarantees a product that is monitored and certified at every stage of production. During the processing of Bresaola della Valtellina PGI, numerous checks are carried out along the entire supply chain to ensure a safe, high-quality product for the end consumer. Compliance with the Production Specification is verified by a third-party certification body (CSQA Certificazioni), authorized by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies.
So, when we savor the taste of Bresaola della Valtellina PGI, we know it is the result of selecting the best raw materials, guaranteed by complete traceability of the production chain and a processing specification recognized by official authorities—whose observance is verified by an independent certification body.