La Rioja in a Cheese

Abstract

The ways in which people produce and consume food reveal both historical and contemporary dynamics attached to environmental and social factors. La Rioja is a Spanish region located in the northern area of the Iberian Peninsula which is famous for its wine. However, it also has a cheese which dates to the Medieval Ages. La Rioja landscapes and lifestyles are embedded in Camerano cheese, which is made in the Sierra de Cameros with a Protected Designation of Origin. The value chain of Camerano cheese is based on a close connection between people, places and practices. Drawing from a case study method and supported by a visual auto ethnography, results reveal the relevance of Camerano cheese and its trajectory from ancient to modern times from the perspective of local actors. While La Rioja wine may eclipse La Rioja cheese, this article adds to the understanding of local products as part of the narratives of food as a path to protect and promote local identities.