Alpa, award-winning Calabrian chestnut products.

Alpa is a flourishing company located at the foot of the Sila Piccola, in Calabria, specializing in the processing and transformation of one of the most typical fruits of the area, namely its Majesty the chestnut.
Since 1960, Alpa has specialized in the production and processing of fresh chestnuts and derivatives such as flour, jams, and preserves. Alpa's products are a true delight, the result of the quality of the ingredients and tradition, and we are not the only ones saying this. In fact, Alpa has also managed to win over The WineHunter thanks to some products that allowed it to receive the WineHunter Award. Ready to discover a little more about this company and the products that enabled it to win this prestigious award? Then keep reading!

Alpa, the Italian artisanal tradition

Alpa was founded in 1996, the year in which the marketing activity began by the Gualtieri family in 1960 was consolidated. Over the years, the company has grown significantly and has gradually expanded its range of products, which today boasts numerous jams, creams, and preserves of the highest quality. However, the philosophy has remained the same: to enhance the raw material by producing excellent products that reflect Italian tradition while adding a touch of novelty. The production, amounting to about 5000 quintals per year, is carried out artisanally at the Rogliano (CS) facility, organized into three distinct departments that operate according to guidelines designed to maximize the naturalness of the product and food safety. The artisanal process preserves the quality and properties of the selected raw materials, 100% Italian. In fact, only the best Italian seasonal fruits are used to create excellent, genuine, and natural products, preserving the quality of strictly fresh fruit, without the use of preservatives and colorants.

Alpa, the natural principles that guide the company

Alpa products are genuine and have always adhered to the same few but valuable principles. For over 60 years, Alpa has remained true to its original approach by working only with fresh seasonal fruit, without using processed or semi-processed materials, carrying out the process artisanally and using only cane sugar while limiting the doses so as not to sacrifice the taste and aroma of the raw material. To strengthen this approach, a great source of pride for the company, which has thus achieved remarkable results, has also been increased organic production, which now accounts for about 70% of the output. But what is the raw material we are talking about? Well, Alpa's products are indeed many and all delicious, but the company has achieved excellence, both in Italy and Europe, especially thanks to the chestnuts. Once called “the bread of the poor,” today they are considered a precious and exquisite food, a gourmet ingredient in many sweet and savory dishes. Let’s discover together how Alpa has decided to enhance this ingredient.

Alpa, the WineHunter products (and more)

We don't want to keep you waiting any longer, so let's reveal right away which Alpa products have won the WineHunter Award.

The first product is contained in a small jar that, once opened, will overwhelm you with the aroma it releases. We are talking about Roasted chestnuts with chocolate cream, a delicious variation of classic chocolate cream. The products used are whole Italian chestnuts of medium caliber, carefully selected, prepared with a slow-cooking process that preserves their organoleptic properties and then immersed in an intense dark chocolate cream, categorically free from palm oil. Roasted chestnuts with chocolate are perfect as a dessert or to dress savory meat dishes, like beef. Absolutely delicious.

Another award-winning product is the rum-soaked roasted chestnuts, a very tasty variant of the famous product from Italian autumn tradition. The chestnuts, after being peeled and selected, are immersed in rum syrup. Rum-soaked roasted chestnuts are extremely versatile: perfect as a dessert, they are also the ideal ingredient for creating sweets with unique fillings and pair well with simple flavor ice creams.
In short, the products just seen are guaranteed, a true delight to try at least once in a lifetime, but the other products in the range should not be underestimated either.

For example, a very interesting product is the Organic corn and chestnut penne, truly special for their sweetness and texture, ideal for those looking for gluten-free products. This bronze-extruded pasta is a perfect mix of corn and chestnut flour. Great with pesto or walnut sauce, but being very flavorful already, it is also perfect to enjoy with sage and butter, two ingredients that will enhance the aroma of these delightful penne.

Moving on to the creams, another interesting product is the chestnut cream with dark chocolate, also awarded by The WineHunter, a delicious creation that adds a touch of sweetness to your snacks. With a natural, genuine, and refined flavor, this cream is perfect for a good but refined snack or breakfast. Made without the use of colorants and preservatives, this cream will become your number one ally for your most delicious breakfasts!

If you want a sweet cream that allows you to fully enjoy the aroma and simplicity of chestnuts, you cannot miss trying the organic chestnut cream from Alpa, also awarded by The WineHunter, a sweet and pleasant preparation made solely from organic chestnuts with the addition of organic cane sugar. This cream is perfect on bread or toasted bread, perhaps as an alternative to hazelnut cream, but is also well-used if used to fill cakes or tarts or paired with fresh cheeses for tasty aperitifs.

If you want to stock up on whole roasted chestnuts, then you must try the natural roasted chestnuts, a product that reflects the tradition of made in Italy and allows you to have the classic soft, already peeled roasted chestnut always on hand, preserved in water and sugar. The chestnuts, cooked slowly, are presented whole, so they can be enjoyed as a snack or dessert or as a main ingredient for your sweet or savory dishes.

Alpa products are good and genuine, prepared by processing chestnuts according to Italian tradition, to preserve their organoleptic qualities. Alpa preparations are a blend of aromas and flavors where the chestnut is literally the star. If you want to discover the myriad aromatic nuances of this ingredient, take a look at our selection, which also features the products awarded by The WineHunter!