Cordero Manchego

Fresh lamb from the Manchega breed, raised and fattened exclusively within the natural region of La Mancha across the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, and Toledo. Carcasses must fall within the extra or first category, with a carcass weight between 10 and 15 kg, and are fed on maternal milk, white straw, and authorised concentrates.

About this designation

Cordero Manchego is a PGI covering fresh lamb produced exclusively from animals of the Manchega breed, without distinction of sex, raised and fattened within the delimited geographical area of La Mancha. That area encompasses the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, and Toledo, covering the comarcas of La Mancha, La Manchuela, Centro, and Almansa in Albacete; La Mancha, Campo de Calatrava, and Campo de Montiel in Ciudad Real; La Manchuela, La Mancha Baja, and La Mancha Alta in Cuenca; and La Mancha in Toledo. Lambs are kept in stabling and fed on maternal milk supplemented ad libitum with white straw and concentrates permitted by legislation, until after weaning they are able to feed exclusively on white straw and those concentrates. Eligible carcasses belong to the extra or first category and must weigh between 10 and 15 kg. The specification describes the meat as pale pink in colour, lean to moderately fatty, covered with a thin layer of white fat over the rump, base of the tail, and along the spine and kidneys, with the muscles of the legs, back, and trapezoids left uncovered. Authenticated carcasses are marked with the initials "CM" in indelible ink on the legs, shoulders, and breast, and carry an individually numbered label bearing the IGP Cordero Manchego logo. The designation is managed by the Fundación Consejo Regulador de la Denominación Específica Cordero Manchego (IGP), based in Albacete. EU protection was granted on 6 June 1998 under file number PGI-ES-0047.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 6 June 1998 under file number PGI-ES-0047, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013444.
• Only lambs of the Manchega breed qualify; no crossbred animals are permitted under the specification.
• Eligible carcasses must weigh between 10 and 15 kg and belong to the extra or first category.
• Authenticated carcasses are marked with the initials "CM" in indelible ink on the legs, shoulders, and breast, and carry an individually numbered label.

Tasting notes

Castilian-Manchego lamb IGP from Manchega-breed flocks. Lean pink meat, characteristic Manchego-pasture flavor.

HoReCa use

Cordero asado al horno de leña (wood-oven roast lamb) is a central-Manchego restaurant signature dish.

Packaging

• Same as other lamb IGPs

Seasonality