AT LA CARBONERA: MARTÍN ROSBERG

2023 was a year full of experiences and new challenges that we are looking forward to in 2024. We traveled a lot, tried diverse dishes, and enjoyed many cheeses and wines, all with the aim of enriching our knowledge and training our palates. But probably the most exciting thing about 2023 was Martín Rosberg 's visit to La Carbonera Madrid , which will celebrate its first anniversary on September 7th.

FROM COLOGNE TO MADRID

Martín is a cheesemaker from Latin America who proves that artisanal cheeses can be made on a continent dominated by industrial production. A true revolutionary. And he came to our house to demonstrate it.

Our connection with Martín was instant when we visited him in early 2023 at his farm in Colonia, Uruguay. Seeing his small but impressive cheese factory was a wonderful surprise. We spent a fantastic day tasting cheeses, enjoying a Spanish omelet and some exquisite skirt steak, all accompanied by two or three bottles of wine and an unforgettable five-hour conversation. What a memorable afternoon!

After that visit, we met again at DeGuarda , a Montevideo shop specializing in cheeses and dairy products. It was there that Martín suggested I present his cheeses in Madrid. I immediately agreed and decided to gather everyone in the cheese world for the occasion. I didn't know how this initiative would turn out, how the guests would respond, or if they would be captivated by the idea… To my surprise, almost all of them already knew Martín from social media (bless it!), so in the end, everything was much easier than I imagined!

STELLAR MOMENTS

So, we organized an event at our venue with the cream of the national cheese sector with the intention of building community, discussing our problems, joys, certainties and doubts… while enjoying a cheese tasting by Martín, an amazing dinner prepared by our chef Marité and a board of 13 cheeses supplied by all the producers present.

Each of the guests presented their cheese to the rest, demonstrating their communication skills in a very special moment where we all learned to listen to each other and understand each other's work better.

But speaking of memorable moments, another particularly moving one stands out: when Silvia de Cható Gañán surprised everyone by reciting the poem "No te rindas" (Don't Give Up) by another universal Uruguayan poet, Mario Benedetti, deeply touching us all. Silvia and Kike are the founders of a very small winery in Cebreros (Ávila), where they produce white and red wines that we were able to taste with the cheeses and the rest of the dinner. Here is a beautiful excerpt from the text:

A LUXURIOUS CAST

For La Carbonera, it was an honor and a privilege to welcome the cheesemakers, distributors, and friends of this wonderful world. Many of them made the effort to come from various parts of Spain to be present. Let it be known, it's not impossible to travel from the most remote corners of Spain to Madrid—you just need the desire!

That they traveled so many kilometers to attend this event is truly commendable and praiseworthy, because neither the animals nor the milk can wait. I thank everyone in general and I will pause to express my deepest gratitude to each of them personally:

Guillermina Sánchez Cerezo . Words can't express how much we owe Guille, our spiritual guide in the world of cheese, always ready to answer our questions and concerns… Thank you for everything, beautiful!

Juan Luis Royuela was the first cheesemaker we met, and from the very first moment he offered us his support, warmth, and expertise. His was the first cheese factory I ever visited ( Quesos La Cabezuela ). Back then, I felt like I was in another world, but from that moment on, my discovery of the rural world changed my relationship with cheese. Thank you so much, Royuela!

Ana Belén González Pino is a fantastic communicator in the world of cheese, filling any room with magic and joy just by being there. She has led several tastings at La Carbonera and they've always been a huge hit. Ana, we love you!

Marcelino Real Ibáñez is a true master of his craft, a man with an extensive career in the world of cheese ( Cremositos del Zújar ) from whom we never stop learning. We shared some wonderful moments at the @slowfood fair in Bra, Italy. Well done, Marcelino!

Silvia Marín is a diva of the wine world. I mean it. A wonderful person who gives you everything, incredibly hospitable. For me, it's a privilege to be her friend and to share so many wines with her and her lout of a husband!

Kike Prados . Every time we meet, a few (many) bottles of wine tend to disappear—what a mystery! Kike is a true wine outsider , oblivious to trends and weird fads, who only seeks the truth… and he often finds it. We love you, you rascal!

I met Javier Barrera after a Jean-Michel Jarre concert at the Monastery of Santo Toribio. We crossed paths on the trail, I called him, and he invited me to come. Everything he does is spectacular: his cave, his knowledge of the environment, his fascination with molds and yeasts, and above all, his cheeses ( Quesería Siete Lobas ). He instilled in me a passion for cheese rinds and a desire to understand every aspect of cheesemaking. I'm forever grateful, Javier!

Rubén Valbuena has managed to "give a voice to the countryside" and "put a face to the cheeses," as the slogan of his cheese shop, Cultivo, aptly states. He's a true leader in cheese sales, but also in production, advising countless cheese dairies across the country. A great cheesemaker whom we greatly respect and from whom we learn more every time we see him. Thank you so much for coming, Rubén!

Airas Moniz cheese factory is now a part of our lives. Xuxo is a special person, full of dreams and goals. It's a pleasure to meet people who are always striving for more, and I'm not just talking about financial and business matters, but also about being a better person. I truly love him. Thank you for coming, but above all for sharing such wonderful moments with me and the whole team (Xuxo even organizes secret parties at our bar!).

And alongside Xuxo, Ana Vázquez Marqués , my Anita, my favorite Uruguayan! You're a spectacular woman, always optimistic and with that infectious zest for life. We have a trip planned… let's see if we can make it happen!

I have a special connection with Adrián Pellejo ; our conversations are never empty, always full of enthusiasm, positivity, and a lot of behind-the-scenes hard work. He's a true star , a real pro, at the helm of Formaje . We'll continue sharing many cheese-related and non-cheese-related moments, talking about anything and everything with complete freedom. Thanks, Adrián, we owe each other a beer!

Clara Díez is another pillar of Formaje. In recent years, the world of cheese has expanded into various areas (communication, debate, events, fairs, etc.), and Clara has played a huge role in all of this because she has managed to create an incredible synergy between consumer, seller, and producer. With you, it's so easy to talk, share, and debate. Thank you so much for being here; I know you're a bit of a wanderer . By the way, your book, *Milk, Ferment, and Life *, is a true marvel!

Our beloved Tomás Pérez Monzón has all the ladies in the shop completely captivated. We love him for his cheese ( 3 Valles Pasiegos ) and his butter, but above all because he's a true Pasiego. We've known each other for ages, and every time we meet, he brings us knowledge, magic, and joy. Thanks again!

Carlos Reixa is a fighter, a fantastic cheesemaker, and a truly remarkable person. A man of few words, but those he speaks are always undeniably true. This guy left Lugo at midday to come to Madrid and returned at midnight because he had to check on the curd. It's things like this that make us love him to bits… thank you so much, Carlitos!

I don't know Alvaro Carral well enough yet, but if he's friends with Adrián and Clara, nothing can go wrong. He makes a fantastic cheese, the Divirin, which he brought us on the day of the event. Besides, I know he's a true rocker , and that's a big plus ;) Thanks for coming, Alvaro! I hope we can see each other more often and chat about life like we love to!

Andy Lax is a spectacular, restless, and very funny person. A cheese importer and a regular customer at our shop, but above all, I consider him a very good friend. This year at Bra, we've shared lots of cheese, lots of wine… and a few cheese-related conversations. Thanks, Andy!

Paco Alía . Our dear Paco, a master cheesemaker who is always available for whatever we need. We've visited him several times ( Elvira García Cheeses ) and I can't help but remember the spa he set up for his goats—it's a sight to behold! Thank you so much, Paco.

Photo: CGM Communication