Three words that truly embody Grana Padano are ‘quality’, ‘authenticity’ and ‘traceability’. Indeed, the world’s best-selling PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheese is recognised and protected by the Italian State and the European Union for those very attributes.
Grana Padano was created in the Po Valley, just south of Milan, in 1135 by monks trying to preserve surplus milk. Today, artisans in the same area continue to make the cheese using traditional techniques and ingredients, including raw milk from local cows. Aged for a minimum of nine months, the cheese must pass strict tests before it can receive Grana Padano’s stamp of approval.