Cheese story
What is Grana Padano?
A widely used Italian hard cheese similar to Parmesan but generally milder.
Origin
Po Valley, Italy
Milk
cow
Board role
Hard / mature
Cheese profile
Country
Italy
Region
Po Valley
Milk type
cow
Texture
hard grating
Rind
natural
Ageing
9 to 24+ months
Vegetarian
Check the rennet / producer
Milk treatment
raw/partly skimmed
Flavour profile: mild, nutty, savoury, granular
Origin, protection and character
Grana Padano comes from Italy, especially Po Valley. Its character comes from the balance of milk, texture, rind, ageing and local serving traditions.
Protected status
PDO/DOP
Typical ageing
9 to 24+ months
How to serve Grana Padano
pasta, risotto, soups, salads
Good food matches
Prosecco
pears
cured meats
Serving tip
Take it out of the fridge before serving so the texture softens and the flavour opens up. Softer cheeses usually need less time than hard aged cheeses.
Buying tip
Look for clean aroma, good texture and a style that matches the board: fresh and bright, soft and creamy, hard and nutty, blue and salty, or bold and washed-rind.
