Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO heads to San Diego Food + Wine Festival

Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO will appear at the San Diego Food + Wine Festival from Nov. 6-8, 2026, with tastings, live hand-slicing and chef-facing events. The campaign aims to expand awareness of the protected Italian ham in the U.S. market and highlight its traditional production methods.

Why it matters: - Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO is using a major U.S. food festival to reach American consumers, chefs and industry professionals. - The activation is designed to build awareness for a protected European specialty and the craftsmanship behind it. - The U.S. is a key market for Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO, according to Marco Pulici, vice president of the Consorzio Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO.

What happened: - Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO will take part in the San Diego Food + Wine Festival from Nov. 6-8, 2026. - The appearance is part of “The EU Gem Ham,” a promotional campaign co-funded by the European Union. - The program will feature tastings, hand-slicing demonstrations and chef collaborations at three signature festival events.

The details: - The festival opens with Icons + Legends Opening Night on Friday, Nov. 6, at JULEP Venue. - Davide Carminati, an Italian norcino, will host a dedicated tasting station and perform live hand-slicing demonstrations. - The festival continues on Saturday, Nov. 7, with the Grand Tasting at Embarcadero Marina Park North. - Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO will have a dedicated booth at the Grand Tasting. - The Grand Fiesta follows on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the same venue. - The Grand Fiesta celebrates culinary traditions connecting Southern California, Mexico and Baja California. - Davide Carminati will offer freshly sliced samples on both Saturday and Sunday. - Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO is produced exclusively in the municipality of Carpegna in Italy’s Marche region. - The ham follows strict production rules and a slow curing process that gives it a delicate flavor, soft texture and aromatic fragrance. - PDO certification guarantees origin, authenticity and compliance with a protected traditional production method. - The EU GEM HAM campaign is co-financed by the European Union and promotes premium EU food products with PDO and PGI status. - The campaign positions those designations as symbols of quality, regional heritage and artisanal craftsmanship. - More information is available on the official project website and on Instagram @consorzio_carpegna.

Between the lines: - The festival presence is as much about trade relationships as consumer sampling. - Carminati’s live slicing is meant to turn a product display into a craftsmanship demonstration. - The campaign leans on protected-origin labeling to differentiate Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO in a crowded premium deli category.

What's next: - Prosciutto di Carpegna PDO will use the San Diego appearances to court new audiences and strengthen its U.S. footprint. - The campaign will continue promoting the ham and the broader EU protected-food message through its digital channels and festival outreach.