At the Champions League Final on June 1, Real Madrid and Dortmund won't be the only big stars at Wembley Stadium: Alta Expresión de Los Pedroches Dry-Cured Acorn-Fed 100% Ibérico Pork Ham will be there too.
Guests of the royal box will be able to enjoy this delicacy hand-sliced by José Sol, one of the most renowned global ambassadors of Dry-Cured Acorn-Fed 100% Ibérico Pork Ham, who selected this product exclusively for the attendees of such a major event.
In the words of José Sol, “If England gives us an exceptional location for a Champions League Final — as the birthplace of soccer and home of legends — Spain provides an international culinary treasure in terms of excellence and an icon of our country: Dry- Cured Acorn-Fed 100% Ibérico Pork Ham." Sol also highlighted that "the flavor of Alta Expresión de Los Pedroches Dry-Cured Acorn-Fed 100% Ibérico Pork Ham impresses and surprises even the most demanding palates and is the honorary host at the most special of celebrations, like this Final".
The ham that will be served at Wembley is a true pata negra from the 2019 season, with more than 5 years of aging in natural curing houses, giving it an excellence and quality not often seen in the market. COVAP's master ham-makers were charged with selecting the two pieces that traveled to London for the final. This product is so exclusive that there are only 110 units in the curing houses of Cooperativa del Valle de Los Pedroches (COVAP).
Specifically, the selected hams come from the Cantarero Porcitor and Fuente La Lastra estates. In both cases, the pigs spent 80 days in the Montanera, a very important time for future pieces, as it is when they feed exclusively on the acorns and grasses of the Dehesa pastures and get the exercise necessary to give Dry-Cured Acorn-Fed 100% Ibérico Pork Ham the organoleptic properties that make it unique.
The 2019 Montanera was characterized by an abundance of natural resources, which the 100% Ibérico pigs made good use of. The spring rains gave way to good flowering and fruit-bearing of the Holm oak trees. And the rainfall in late September resulted in excellent autumn pastures that helped the acorns ripen.
Likewise, the closed production cycle of the Cooperativa del Valle de Los Pedroches makes it possible to not only geolocate the pieces but also to track the entire production process until they reach the end consumer. To do so, simply enter the code that appears on the seal certifying the ham's authenticity at this website: ibericoscovap.com/traceability.
Every Alta Expresión de Los Pedroches Dry-Cured Acorn-Fed 100% Ibérico Pork Ham is the result of careful time-honored production, controlling the quality from its origin to its aging in natural curing houses, where our master ham-makers bring out their fullest creative expression, controlling every aroma, the exact amount of salt, and the optimum aging temperature to create an unparalleled product.
Rearing 100% Ibérico pigs free range in a unique location like the largest continuous stand of Holm oak trees in the world — the Dehesa of Valle de los Pedroches — gives each piece a perfect character, flavor, and texture, making it perfect to enjoy while watching such a special match like the Champions League Final.