Quick Review: Columbus Artisan Hot Sopressata

You can tell that a country is serious about preserving food culture when they issue “protective status” labels for cheeses, meats, wines, etc.  Italy, for example has standards for wine (such as DOC or Denominazione di Origine Controllata; meaning that any particular wine from an officially recognized region of Italy must be produced in specific well-defined regions, according to specific rules designed to preserve the traditional wine-making practices of the individual regions).

In Calabria, the salami sopressata (see my guide to salami here) enjoys PDO or Protected Designation of Origin status meaning any salami labeled as Sopressata di Calabria must be entirely manufactured (prepared, processed AND produced) within the specific region according to traditional methods.  Sopressata received its name from the practice of pressing the salami between pieces of wood resulting in a straight, flattened shape. 

You can purchase Columbus hot sopressata here.