Grana Padano

Grana Padano DOP is an Italian hard cheese with cooked curd and slow aging, produced exclusively from raw cow’s milk, partially skimmed. It is one of the most widely sold and exported gastronomic products of Made in Italy worldwide.

Main characteristics

• Production area: It is produced in 32 provinces of Northern Italy, across a territory that extends from Piedmont to Veneto.
• Appearance and texture: The paste is compact and finely grainy, with a color ranging from white to straw yellow.
• Taste and aroma: It has a delicate, fragrant, and well-balanced flavor, suitable both as a table cheese and for grating.
• Lactose-free: It is naturally lactose-free thanks to the long aging and fermentation process.

The three official aging stages

The Grana Padano Protection Consortium certifies three different maturation periods:

1. 9 to 16 months: Mild and delicate taste, ideal for everyday consumption or as a table cheese.
2. Over 16 months: More pronounced flavor and grainier texture, excellent for grating.
3. Riserva (over 20 months): Rich and complex aroma, perfect for those who enjoy intense flavors and refined pairings.