The Milk Supply Chain

A day on the Brigasca mountain pasture

The Milk Supply Chain is a summer event held on the Madonna della Neve pasture, above Upega, one of the hamlets of the Municipality of Briga Alta, in the province of Cuneo, at the edge of Piedmont bordering Liguria. The initiative is dedicated to providing an up-close look at alpine life and the ancient craft of cheesemaking in one of the most isolated and evocative mountain areas of the Ligurian Alps.

From milking to cheese

The heart of the day is a journey to discover the entire milk production chain: from milking the animals in the pasture to processing the freshly collected milk. Master cheesemakers guide visitors, both adults and children, through traditional techniques, demonstrating how milk is transformed into cheese, butter, and ricotta. It is a rare opportunity to witness ancient practices—often absent from standard tourist circuits—and to understand the value of mountain pastoralism.

Typical daily program

• Early morning meeting and departure from Viozene, in front of the San Bartolomeo church, traveling by private vehicle to the pasture;
• Rustic breakfast on the pasture, provided by the Pro Loco;
• Milking demonstration and practice with the shepherds;
• Cheesemaking workshop, transforming milk into cheese, butter, and ricotta;
• Lunch featuring dairy products, by reservation.

Brigasca tradition and culture

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of Upega, often in collaboration with the association "A Vaštera Űniun de Tradisiùn Brigašche," guardian of the identity and Brigasca language—a mountain community with its own unique traditions spanning Piedmont, Liguria, and the cross-border region. Participating in The Milk Supply Chain means not only tasting genuine products but also immersing yourself in a living mountain culture defined by pastures, shepherding, and knowledge passed down through generations in the Upper Tanaro Valley.