As Christmas approaches, panettone is once again the protagonist on our tables and those seeking artisanal excellence know well that there are no shortcuts: you need mother yeast, selected ingredients and a mastery of workmanship that only true professionals possess. Precisely in this context, Mastro Panettone d’Elite 2025 was born, the national competition that celebrates Italian artisanal panettone of the highest level.
The first edition of this competition organized by Goloasi, the platform dedicated to Italian artisan pastry founded by Massimiliano Dell’Aera, has just ended at Villa Arvedi, Grezzana (Verona). The event, entirely focused on high-end artisanal panettone, saw pastry chefs from all over Italy compete, with a single strict rule: no preservatives, only fresh sourdough and quality ingredients.
The great innovation of this edition was the “Hands in the dough” phase, which made the competition unique. The finalists had to make their panettone live between 3 and 7 November at the Logiudice Forni laboratory in Arcole (Verona).
The panettones were then judged by three competition commissioners based on criteria such as cleanliness of the work, respect for deadlines and correct mixing methods. This approach made it possible to enhance artisan work, offering the public and the jury an authentic look at the craft.
The best artisanal panettone 2025
The overall winners of Mastro Panettone d’Elite 2025 were:
The panettone were judged according to rigorous parameters: taste, aroma, texture, quality of the raw materials and compliance with the rules of natural leavening. The result was a podium that represents the excellence of Italian confectionery craftsmanship. Here are the 3 winners for each category.
Traditional Category
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Chocolate category
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The very young Michele Iazzetta, 19 years old, from the Pasticceria Francesco Iazzetta in Cardito (Naples), was awarded a note of merit: despite having obtained the same score as the third place, he placed fourth based on the regulation, which in the event of a tie favors the person who obtained the highest score in the tasting phase.
