EUCHRONICLES - DOP EXCELLENCE: A EUROPEAN EXPERTISE

With the arrival of summer, a season that more than any other fosters encounters between travelers, regions, and excellent products, the European project Euchronicles – DOP Excellence: an all-European savoir-faire was the focus of two major initiatives dedicated to promoting DOP products in the national and international press. During the month of June, the Garda Wine Stories 2026 press tour, promoted by the Garda DOC Consortium, and the educational tour dedicated to Montasio DOP, organized by the Consortium for the Protection of Montasio Cheese, took place. These two key events allowed journalists and opinion leaders to experience the authenticity of the regions firsthand, meet key players in the supply chain, and delve deeper into the heritage of traditions, expertise, and quality that makes European DOP excellence unique.

Two complementary events that allowed journalists and content creators to delve deeper into the value of certified European products, through immersive experiences that showcased not only the products themselves, but also the regions, people, and cultural heritage that define them.

From June 3rd to 5th, Lake Garda hosted the latest edition of Garda Wine Stories , the format created by the Garda DOC Consortium to strengthen dialogue with the trade press and explore the future prospects of the appellation. The initiative centered on a technical conference hosted at the Dogana Veneta in Lazise, dedicated to new consumer trends and growth strategies in international markets, with a particular focus on low-alcohol wines and the evolution of global demand.

Alongside the in-depth sessions, the program highlighted the strong connection between wine and its territory through tastings, meetings with the appellation's wineries, and an innovative masterclass dedicated to sensory perception, confirming Garda DOC as a dynamic and forward-looking entity.

A few weeks later, the story of PDO excellence continued in Friuli Venezia Giulia with the press tour dedicated to Montasio PDO, which on June 22nd and 23rd took participants on a discovery of one of the most representative dairy products of the eastern Alpine region.

The initiative kicked off in Udine with an educational session dedicated to the history, distinctive characteristics, and protection system of Montasio DOP cheese. Participants then visited a dairy, where they had the opportunity to observe the various stages of production and learn more about the production chain. The tour concluded with a guided tasting of the various ages of Montasio DOP and a convivial moment dedicated to promoting the local gastronomic traditions.

The two events represented an important opportunity for discussion between information operators and protection consortia, contributing to strengthening knowledge of European denominations among specialized media and to promoting the values of quality, authenticity and sustainability.

A EUROPEAN BREATH: THE CONSORTIUM IN THE “DOP EXCELLENCE” PROJECT

Last year, the Montasio DOP Protection Consortium became part of the three-year project “DOP Excellence: an entirely European know-how” , co-financed by the European Union and implemented together with the Garda DOC, Crudo di Cuneo DOP and Salame di Varzi DOP Protection Consortia.

The initiative aims to strengthen the awareness of PDO agri-food products, promoting the quality and competitiveness of the sector in Italy, Germany, and Austria. The project includes a series of strategic activities to increase the visibility and consumption of these excellent products in their target markets.