After its inauguration on Friday 24th, the seventh edition of the Cheese and Wine Festival filled the Virgen de la Peña Square in Mijas Pueblo with delicious flavours and a great atmosphere last weekend. Over three days, the gastronomic event showcased the expertise of 13 local establishments and seven cheesemakers from the province, offering a wide selection of artisan products. Cheese, wine, Iberian ham, and other delicacies were all present at this festival, which attracted large crowds.

"This fair is becoming increasingly well established thanks to the joint efforts of Mijas's businesses and the Town Hall. It couldn't be any other way. I believe that if we want things to go well, we must also give opportunities to our local establishments, they have to be present. The Cheese and Wine Festival is an example of this, and I think you can see it in the atmosphere. Many people have come to enjoy themselves throughout the day", said the mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), on Saturday 25th.

 

“We are very happy with the turnout we have had since Friday. The Virgen de la Peña Square is packed with people enjoying cheese, wine, and, above all, Mijas' excellent cuisine”, added Melisa Ceballos (PP), the councilor responsible for Public Roads. Promoted by this department and the Economic Development area, the festival has been a showcase for participating local businesses, which have been able to attract new customers thanks to this event. "We are at the seventh edition of the Cheese and Wine Festival and, of course, Spanish ham could not be missing. We had to be here no matter what", said Fran Ortiz, manager of Corte de Autor, adding that "the public is responding very well", so they were "super happy".

Mariela Gómez, from El Obrador, another business participating as an exhibitor, expressed the same feeling. “This is the third year we've taken part and we're very happy, the weather is helping a lot”, said the young woman, recalling that in previous editions the rain made an appearance. On this occasion, with the sun shining, they have had more opportunities to sell their products. “We have a little bit of everything, pastries, savory items, everything is homemade, including the bread".

 

Mijas wine 

Among so many flavors, cheese and wine could not be missing, especially when the latter were offered by local establishments. “We have red wines, rosés, different varieties. We also have Shiraz, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot”, said Ana Lavado, from Bodegas Hermanas López Lavado, which produces wines from Mijas, one of the latest being Chorlitejo Salvaje, which was present at the festival.

“We have a lot of wines this year, Ribera, Rioja, Malbec, white, rosé, a little bit of everything”, added Estrella Viera, from Bar Porras. “The one I tried was Rioja; they're all very good”, said Pepe Martín, one of the many people who came to the festival on Saturday with the aim of having a good time. As another attendee, Juan José del Moral, put it: “With wine and cheese, you can get through anything”.

But it wasn't just the food that attracted the public, it was also the great atmosphere, with numerous music and dance performances. "It's a great atmosphere, family-friendly, and with very pleasant music. We're really enjoying ourselves", said Paqui Torres, who came to the Virgen de la Peña Square with her family. ”I'd never been here before and I'm surprised because there's a great atmosphere and it's a lot of fun", said an enthusiastic Carmen Sánchez, who didn't want to miss this gastronomic event, which is ”worth repeating; everything's great", added her friend Virginia Guerrero.

There were few excuses not to go, as the Town Hall provided a shuttle bus service to facilitate visitors' access to the square. “We have a free bus service provided by the Town Hall from Las Lagunas and La Cala to avoid driving and so that everyone can freely enjoy both the cheese and the wine”, explained the councilor for Urban Mobility, Marco Cortés (PP).

 

Well received by the public

If the atmosphere on Saturday was good, Sunday wasno exception. The Cheese and Wine Festival continued on its final day, attracting locals and tourists to the Virgen de la Peña Square to enjoy a wide variety of products. "Since Friday, when we started the seventh edition of the festival, the square has been packed with people enjoying the event, both the music and, of course, the cheese and wine. We have the best cheeses in the country here, as well as other regional cheeses that are also worth trying", said the councilor Juan José Torres Trella (PP).

Alfonso Martín attended the festival on behalf of Quesos Sierra Sur, which won first prize nationally. “It is a goat's cheese made with pasteurized milk and aged for ten months”, he explained, adding that they have sold “a lot of cheese” at the festival. “It is being very well received by the public,by visitors from outside and by the people here in Mijas, which is wonderful”, he added.

Wine has also sold well: “It's been a huge success. I've lost count of how much we sold on Saturday. Honestly, it was an extraordinary night and today [Sunday] is also a wonderful day”, said Juan Marcos Pérez, from Viña Tamisa (Bodegas Hermanas Lopez Lavado) and Mijas Wine. The wines from Mijas have been a huge hit with the public: “I'm tasting one and I think it's spectacular, I mean, it's just as good as wines from other parts of Spain; it's really delicious”, said José Jaén, an attendee.

With such a warm reception from the public, the event has been an opportunity for local establishments to increase their sales in autumn, as local resident Manuel Gámez said: “It gives many bars here the opportunity to continue, once the summer is over, selling local products”. Not surprisingly, the festival is a showcase for them. “We take advantage of the opportunity to gauge whether or not the public likes a wine and then take the offer to the bar and keep it there", said Leidy Mendoza of Bartolo Gastrobar.

Even though the festival is over, you can still try many of the delicacies that were offered there by visiting the shops and restaurants of the various local exhibitors who participated: Porras, La Plaza, Confusión, Radikal, Arancha, Bartolo, Las Tablitas, La Muralla, Chema's Terrace, Corte de Autor, Alboka, and Amor a Málaga.

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