Making a Virtue of Necessity: The Success Story of Andreas Wörndle

Handmade chees from the Alpe di Siusi
Actually, he had begun raising goats as a way of keeping the steepest slopes mowed. And then the veterinarian said that it would be a shame not to process the resultant goat's milk – so that's how this young man's career as a cheese-maker began. In intensive seminars, the Andreas acquired the necessary knowledge about processing milk – and especially the milk of goats and sheep – and by the year 2000, he had already won his first award (First Place for his sliced cheese) at the "Wipp Valley Alpine Cheese and Alpine Butter Tasting Contest. "And then I continued winning awards, year-in and year-out," Andreas says with visible pride.
His 40 goats and five cows provide him with enough milk to manufacture a considerable number of wheels of cheese. In his cheese-dairy, Andreas makes cream cheese, sliced cheese, and cheese spread, seasoned with thyme, parsley, basil, or other herbs from his mother's garden. "There are lots of recipes," says Andreas. The proper ambient conditions and wholesome milk are the most-essential prerequisites. Of course, he didn't want to reveal any trade secrets.

Aceto Balsamico - Made in Siusi

Balsamic vinegar made in Siusi
It's no longer possible to state exactly when and how the history of balsamic vinegar began. Perhaps it was a batch of boiled grape juice which had been forgotten and then found again after a long time – by which time it would have acquired a sweet-and-sour flavor due to the natural acetic acid fermentation. But it's certain that the foundation for the first traditional balsamic vinegar was laid twelve years ago in Siusi allo Sciliar – and it didn't come from the city of Modena, but rather from the attic of the Hotel Florian
 
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