Say cheese! Over 1,000 people attended the world’s largest cheese tasting in Colombia

These lucky attendees spent their afternoon enjoying some grate cheese (pun intended) and some fun festivities as part of the largest cheese tasting event in the world!

To commemorate its 80th anniversary, the Colombian dairy company Alpina Productos Alimenticios S.A.S BIC decided to be part of a historical milestone by setting a tasty world record. So they invited all the cheese lovers in their community to come out and sample some of the products that make their brand so popular in Latin America and abroad.

And it was no easy task – the previous title had been set by the Kangaroo Valley Agricultural & Horticultural Association in Australia in 2019, with 1,000 participants in attendance. So Alpina had to make sure that they had at least a minimum of a thousand participants tasting their delicious products.

But everyone in the municipality of Sopó, Cundinamarca, Colombia, were thrilled to spend the afternoon with some of their favourite cheesemongers – and 1,185 participants gathered to break the record title!

The event took place on 25 May 2025 in the municipality of Sopó, Cundinamarca, Colombia, and organizers successfully added 185 more participants – even with eleven disqualifications – to achieve the new world record.  

For the record attempt to be successful, each of the participants had to consume all three types of cheese. The company selected three different varieties to symbolise the history, tradition and quality of the traditional Alpina brand products.

The Gruyere cheese, which evokes Alpina's origins with a careful maturing process; the mature Sopó cheese, which launched for the company's 70th anniversary as a tribute to the town bearing the same name; and the Argovia cheese, which represents the fusion between European techniques and Colombia's dairy richness, specially created to celebrate the company's 80th anniversary.

Guinness World Records Adjudicator Natalia Ramirez was present on site and ensured that the event complied with all the previously established guidelines, and that the preparation and quality of the products met all the sanitary standards for consumption.

“As the official Adjudicator of this record attempt, I am delighted to witness such a passionate gathering of cheese enthusiasts. This event not only celebrates the art of cheese tasting, but it also highlights Alpina's dedication to excellence in the dairy industry,” she said. 

“Congratulations to all participants for making this historic milestone possible!”

The event brought together families, cheese lovers and cheese experts in a joyful celebration of tradition and quality. 

It also created opportunities for intergenerational connection, community involvement, and teamwork, as more than 30 Alpina team members contributed to a smooth and meaningful experience.

Through this record title, Alpina seeks to pay tribute to the roots and origins of the company, recognising those who have been part of this extraordinary journey and demonstrating that, when working together, the impossible becomes achievable.

The event not only marked a historic moment of great flavour and tradition, but also reaffirmed the company's commitment to food and the construction of a healthy future that, from its roots, contributes to the economic, social and nutritional development of Colombia.

According to Isabela Garcia, brand analyst at Alpina, “We chose a record that not only spoke of our product – cheese – but also of our spirit: the ability to bring people together, create memorable experiences and leave a mark from Sopó to the world.

“More than looking for a title, we wanted to pay tribute to our roots, recognise those who have been part of this journey and demonstrate that, when we work together, the impossible becomes achievable.”

She also added that: “What seemed like logistical madness turned out to be one of the most exciting achievements of my life. Coordinating a Guinness World Records title didn't just require precision: it required soul, creativity, patience and a lot of passion. Today I know that when everything aligns with purpose, the result is always worth it.”

Congratulations Alpina Productos Alimenticios S.A.S BIC, you are Officially Amazing!