17. Prosciutto Cotto al Vino di Cori
History
The town of Cori is located in the province of Latina, high on the slopes of the Lepini Mountains, on the border between the Agro Pontino plain and the foothills of the Apennines. In this beautiful village, a true norcina excellence is produced: prosciutto cooked in wine. The exact period to which the birth of this product can be attributed is not known, but according to oral tradition, evidence of the production of this ham dates back to the early 1900s.
In the past, it was called 'Prosciutto della Madonna' because it was produced in the Marian month during the festival that the inhabitants still organise today, on the second Sunday in May, with profound devotion in honour of Our Lady of Succour, to whom the Sanctuary on the mountain above the town is dedicated.
Today, there are no less than four generations of farming families from Coresi to whom the production of this product can be traced. What makes it easily distinguishable in the panorama of Lazio's excellent products is the preparation that requires the cured meat, strictly from domestic pigs, to be first desalted, then soaked in white wine (Bellone, another local speciality). Only later, at the end of cooking, are spices and wild herbs such as sage and rosemary added. The prosciutto can be bought whole, with or without the bone, in slices or sliced; those with a sweet tooth can also enjoy it accompanied by a glass of local wine and homemade bread, during the popular annual festival.
The product
Prosciutto cotto al vino di Cori, matured 16 months before being cooked in the oven, has a uniform pink colour of the lean meat and white-pink of the fat with good marbling. Its aroma is characterised by pronounced notes of cooked meat, aromatic herbs (especially sage and rosemary) and white wine. The taste is harmoniously salty and savoury, with a slight sweet and sour note. Good chewiness and aromatic persistence.
THE COUNCILLOR FOR AGRICULTURE, AGRI-FOOD AND SOCIAL AGRICULTURE OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CORI, SIMONETTA IMPERIA
'With the aim of spreading the historical identity of our beautiful village, we have chosen to promote this typical Corese product, which is absolutely unique in the panorama of norcina production in Lazio'. Thus, the councillor explains that the procedure undertaken by the municipal administration was to work to obtain recognition of the Municipal Denomination for this product, but also to obtain, with the collaboration of ARSIAL, an improvement in the preservation phases of the hams and, at the same time, to increase the promotion of the product and its marketing outside the region. "Such a high quality local product," says Simonetta Imperia, "must absolutely be protected and promoted, as it reflects the identity of our territory.
Among the many initiatives that have already taken place, the councillor recalls the 2018 and 2019 festivals, organised in the enchanting setting of the Temple of Hercules, which welcomed guests with ham and wine tastings, while local restaurateurs were able to take part in an original competition, preparing a dish of their own invention that enhanced the product. As far as future projects are concerned, the administration also intends to promote other typical local products, such as Bellone, the bread whose recognition is being considered, and Ciambella scottolata, already De.Co.
