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Showing posts with the label Ronda Iberian ham

Chestnuts, Courage and Craft: The Woman Behind Ronda’s Finest Iberian Ham

In the rugged hills of the Serranía de Ronda, where chestnut trees lean over steep slopes and the air carries the scent of wild herbs, a quiet revolution is unfolding. And leading it is a woman who once taught macroeconomics to university students. Today, Chelo Gámez walks the mountain trails checking on pigs, tasting acorns, and shaping one of Spain’s most surprising success stories in gourmet food. Her company, Dehesa Monteros, has grown from a simple idea into a respected name in the world of premium Iberian ham, a project now whispered about by chefs and ham lovers as a potential contender for the world's best ham. From the Classroom to the Countryside Chelo’s unexpected journey began with a question from one of her own students: “If you teach diversification, why don’t you invest in something real yourself?” The challenge stayed with her. Soon after, she visited a finca in the Valley of Genal and felt something shift. Instead of buying a quiet country retreat, she purchased ...