🧀 When Cheese Tradition Finds Its Place Underground
At Capeloso, we believe that great products are born from respect for the land, patience, and history. That’s why today we want to present you with a gastronomic treasure that shares our philosophy: Tozudo, the artisanal blue cheese from the Vallelongo cheese factory, made in the heart of El Bierzo.
It’s not just a cheese. It’s a sensory experience that unites landscape, memory, and artisanal mastery. And its story begins where few would imagine: underground, in an old iron mine.
⛏️ A Mine that Becomes a Cellar: The Secret of Tozudo
In Ocero, a small village of 148 inhabitants in the municipality of Sancedo (León), the Vallelongo cheese factory has written a unique chapter in the cheese history of Castilla and León. In 2023, the local council granted them an old iron mine from the 1950s. After years of "stubborn" work, in July 2025 they inaugurated the first cheese maturation cellar in the region inside a mine.
This underground space, located at about 850 meters above sea level, naturally maintains exceptional conditions:
🌡️ Stable temperature of 14°C
💧 Constant humidity of 90%
🦠 Indigenous microflora that provides unique mineral character
These conditions allow for a slow and natural maturation over 4 months, transforming each piece of cheese into something unique.
"It is not just a blue cheese. It is a cheese that is born from the land."
rutadelqueso.com
🏆 National Recognition: Silver at GourmetQuesos 2026
The excellence of Tozudo has not gone unnoticed. At the prestigious GourmetQuesos 2026 Championship, held at the Salón Gourmets in Madrid, our blue cheese was awarded the silver medal in the blue cheese category (internally mouldy), after competing with over 800 cheeses from all over Spain and being evaluated by 65 expert judges.
Additionally, at the León Products Fair 2025, Tozudo won the Best Cheese award, establishing itself as one of the most outstanding artisanal blues in the national scene.
Today, its quality has transcended the local sphere: Tozudo is present in more than ten Michelin-starred restaurants, where top chefs choose it for its personality and versatility.
✨ Tozudo in Detail: Characteristics and Sensory Profile
Technical Sheet
Milk: Cow (pasteurised)
Type: Semi-soft, blue, slightly mouldy natural rind
Maturation: 4 months in a mine
Format: Cylindrical, produced in limited batches
Intensity: Strong, balanced
Origin: Ocero, El Bierzo (León)
👃 On the nose:
Intense aromas with dairy, vegetal notes and a distinctive mineral touch inherited from the mine.
👅 On the palate:
Creamy and unctuous texture, with well-distributed blue-green veins. Powerful flavour, slightly spicy and persistent, with a balanced finish that invites further exploration of nuances.
🎨 Presentation:
Fine and natural rind, slightly mouldy, protecting an ivory-coloured paste speckled with naturally developed bluish veins.
🍷 Pairing: How to Enjoy Tozudo
Tozudo is a cheese with personality, ideal for pairings that enhance its character:
✅ Sweet wines: Pedro Ximénez (D.O. Montilla-Moriles), Port, Sauternes or Banyuls. The contrast between sweetness and salty potency creates a memorable experience.
✅ Structured reds: Mencía from Bierzo or full-bodied reds that accompany without overshadowing.
✅ Craft beers: IPA or stout for a modern and surprising pairing.
🍽️ At the table:
Pair it with crunchy bread, nuts, chestnuts or fresh fruit (pear, apple, grapes).
Use it as an ingredient in sauces for grilled meats or to gratin vegetables.
Enjoy it at room temperature to release all its aroma and flavour.
🌱 "Tozuda" Philosophy: Perseverance with Roots
The name of this cheese is no coincidence. "Tozudo" reflects the philosophy of Vallelongo: a way of understanding work based on perseverance, patience and consistency.
When Carlos Pardo and Belén, the creators of the project, decided to convert the old mine into a maturation cellar, they faced a terrain full of obstacles. But, with a stubborn attitude, they managed to create a unique space where time and nature work together.
This same philosophy extends to its commitment to:
🤝 Local suppliers: milk from Galicia and Zamora, peppers from Bierzo.
♻️ Sustainability: recycling and reusable packaging.
🙌 100% artisanal production: no shortcuts, no rush, no compromises.
🗝️ An Experience that Goes Beyond Cheese
Vallelongo offers guided tours of the maturation mine, a sensory experience that combines landscape, history, and gastronomy
vallelongo.com
. Walking through the tunnels where the cheeses rest, breathing the humid and fresh air, and tasting Tozudo in its place of origin is a unique way to connect with the essence of El Bierzo.
"The best way to understand our cheese is to experience it in person."
rutadelqueso.com
🛒 Discover Tozudo in Capeloso
At Capeloso, we take pride in collaborating with projects that share our love for the land and excellence. That’s why we have included Tozudo in our selection of gourmet products from El Bierzo.
👉 [https://www.capeloso.com/shop/quesos-artesanos-del-bierzo-leon-3475/queso-azul-con-ajo-negro-350-gr-vallelongo-557]
📦 Cold shipping throughout Spain | 🎁 Limited edition: artisanal production in small batches
Dare you to try the blue that matures underground?