There’s a moment, every two years, when Bra—a small town on the outskirts of the Langhe—transforms into an international hub of aromas, flavors, and stories. That moment is called Cheese, the event created by Slow Food, which since 1997 has focused on the world of raw milk cheeses, the cheesemakers, the pastures, and the communities that preserve them.
From September 19th to 22nd, 2025, the city will become a sprawling stage where streets, squares, and courtyards will host hundreds of producers from around the world. For cheese lovers, this 15th edition is an event to mark on your calendar, as important as a long-awaited concert or your favorite team’s final.
Cheese: a festival that goes beyond cheese
Calling Cheese a “fair” is an understatement. It’s more of a festival of biodiversity and flavor. Among the stands, you’ll find not only products to taste and purchase, but also encounters with people who have made cheese their life’s work.
Strolling through Bra during Cheese means finding yourself immersed in a vibrant and surprising atmosphere: colorful stalls, intertwining languages, and aromas guiding you from one street to the next. Every bite tells a story: that of an Alpine hut resisting industrialization, that of a native breed saved from extinction, that of a young cheesemaker who decided to return to the land after years in the city.
And then there are the moments of in-depth exploration: workshops, conferences, and discussions with food and sustainability experts. It’s here that you understand that cheese isn’t just food, but culture, landscape, and political choice.
What’s new in the 2025 edition
Each edition of Cheese has a common theme. In 2025, the theme is “There’s a World Around It.” The aim, as the organizers state on their website, is to “tell the story of the world around raw milk, explain what it represents, and reveal its value (environmental, social, cultural, and economic), especially from a future perspective.”
The focus will be on natural cheeses, produced without industrially selected starter cultures, which have gained increasing popularity in recent years. A return to the essentials, where flavor is the fruit of the land and the hands of those who work there.
Additionally, there will be an area dedicated to the new generations of cheesemakers, young men and women who have chosen to take over family businesses or create new ones, often in marginal locations. It will be fascinating to discover how they interpret an ancient craft with a contemporary sensibility, bringing innovation without betraying tradition.
Not just cheese: Cheese also features wool, honey, dairy tourism, chestnuts, and wood.
And of course, there will be no shortage of international flavors: cheeses from the Greek mountains, the French countryside, Swiss valleys, and Nordic fjords. Cheese is a map of the world interpreted through flavors.
In the streets of Bra
Imagine arriving in the city early in the morning: the streets already bustling, the first tastings, the producers passionately sharing their work. In just a few hours, your palate will travel across continents, from an aged French Comté to a pecorino from the Greek islands, to a boldly flavored English blue.
The beauty of Cheese is precisely this: the direct encounter. You’re not in a supermarket looking at a plain package, but you look into the eyes of the person who made that cheese, feel the details of the process, discover the aging secrets you’d never find written on a label.
Alongside the stands are street food stalls, where cheese takes center stage in ready-to-eat dishes: hot sandwiches, crispy fried foods, and reinterpreted traditional recipes. The air smells of conviviality, and there’s only one risk: not knowing where to begin.
Must see
There are a couple of things, however, that absolutely need to be put on the agenda.
- Historic Piedmontese cheeses, such as Castelmagno, Toma delle Langhe, and Bra duro, are the calling card of my region, and tasting them in their natural setting is a doubly rewarding experience.
- Slow Food Presidia, small-scale productions safeguarded to prevent the extinction of specific techniques or breeds. Here you’ll find flavors you won’t find anywhere else.
- Guided tastings are true sensory journeys that often combine cheeses with wines, craft beers, honey, or chocolate.
These are moments that remain etched in your memory and that make you return home with a new awareness.
How to best experience Cheese 2025
A word of advice? Don’t limit yourself to a quick visit. Cheese is an event that deserves to be experienced slowly, allowing yourself to be carried away by the city’s slow pace.
Bring comfortable shoes—you’ll be walking a lot—and always keep a water bottle handy: September can be hot, and the excitement will make you forget the passing of time.
For workshops and special events, it’s best to book in advance on the official website. Some sell out within hours.
And if you’re traveling with children, the event is family-friendly: there’s Cheese Kids with dedicated areas and many activities designed for the little ones.
Where to stay during Cheese: choosing your holiday home
Ogni edizione di Cheese porta a in città migliaia di visitatori. Gli hotel si riempiono presto, i B&B si prenotano mesi prima. Ecco perché scegliere una casa vacanza vicino a Bra può essere la soluzione più comoda e piacevole.
At Vayadù, we offer several options just a short distance from Bra, all meticulously curated and with atmospheres that reflect the local area. From independent houses nestled in the vineyards, perfect for a romantic getaway, to larger apartments ideal for families or groups of friends.
Imagine: after a busy day of tastings and walking, you return to a quiet house overlooking the hills and perhaps open a beautiful bottle of Barolo purchased directly from the producer. It’s more than just accommodation: it’s an experience that extend the magic of the festival.
Some Vayadù proposals
- Casa Flora in Savigliano: bright, modern, with a welcoming design and a charming balcony overlooking the tree-lined avenue. It’s perfect if you want to combine your visit to Cheese with a comfortable stay in the city, just a short drive from both Bra and Alba.
- The Ciabot of Monforte d’Alba: small rural houses transformed into charming retreats, each with its own personality. Alta Langa is perfect for couples, Barolo for families or groups, and Nebbiolo for those seeking space and conviviality.
- Il Nido di Cate in Fossano: an intimate apartment, rich in vintage details, overlooking the Acaja Castle. A place that tells stories and inspires peace.
- Casa Schiaparelli in Savigliano: a cozy nest with exposed beams, in a renovated farmhouse courtyard. Just steps from the town center.
- Casa Fiore in Savigliano: an apartment with a delightful balcony overlooking the city center’s rooftops. And the highlight is a large walk-in closet with a window.
- Casa di Pina in Monforte d’Alba: two apartments, surrounded by the Langhe vineyards, with large terraces overlooking the countryside, every comfort, and private parking.
All the houses have fully equipped kitchens: taking home the cheeses you purchased and improvising a private tasting becomes part of the fun.
Combine Cheese with the discovery of the Langhe
Attending Cheese is also the perfect opportunity to explore the Langhe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alba with its truffles, Barolo with its castle and museums, Monforte with its medieval alleys: each village has its own identity and many surprises to see and taste.
And then there are the landscapes: hills as orderly as gardens, vineyards that begin to turn red and gold in September, breathtaking views. There’s no need for a tight schedule: just let yourself go, perhaps with a stroll among the rows of vines or a tasting at the winery.
Why experience Cheese with Vayadù
The difference is in the details. Choosing a Vayadù vacation home means having:
- spaces designed for relaxation, not just a hotel room;
- privacy and freedom, to organize your day as you wish;
- strategic positions, close to Bra but immersed in the beauty of Piedmont;
- strategic positions, close to Bra but immersed in the beauty of Piedmont;
It’s the best way to transform your visit to Cheese into a complete vacation, combining gastronomic culture and personal well-being.
In conclusion
Cheese 2025 will be an unforgettable journey into the world of cheese: four days of meetings, flavors, and discoveries that speak to nature, tradition, and the future. It’s more than just an event for gourmets: it’s an enriching experience that makes you feel part of a global community united by a love of good, clean, and fair food.
And to make everything even more special, there’s one essential ingredient: the right base for your stay. A welcoming and authentic Vayadù vacation rental near Bra, where the festival continues even after you’ve left the stands.
Cheese is the excuse, but the real experience is living the territory.
