"Kortariko gasna" Cheese Factory

In the Orabidea neighborhood, in the Baztan Valley, stands the Kortariko Borda farmhouse, where cows and sheep graze peacefully in its pastures. The tradition of making cow’s-milk and sheep’s-milk cheeses has been passed down from generation to generation, and perseverance and craftsmanship have earned “Kortariko gasnak” a stellar track record. Today, it is one of the finest cheeses with the Idiazabal Designation of Origin available on the market.

In 2024, it reached new heights: it won the Uharte Arakil competition for the fifth consecutive year; it took home the Gold Medal at Ordizia, where it had already stood out in 2019 by winning first prize and in 2020 by placing third; and it won the Tolosa competition in the Blue Cheese category.

These honors and awards add to a long list of achievements.

With its “Infernuko gasna” and “Infernuko gasna ahumado” cheeses, this cheese maker from Lekaroz won awards in 2019 and 2020 at the Great Taste Awards in London, considered the most coveted food and beverage awards in the world.

In 2021, it took second place in the Euskal Herria Championship, and in 2022, it won the Gold Medal at the Gourmet Awards, a competition that recognizes the best cheeses in Spain. 

This cheese, which bears the Idiazabal Designation of Origin, can be purchased at the farmhouse itself, where, in addition to direct sales, guided toursare offered to anyone who wants to learn “firsthand” about cheese-making and the work of the shepherds.