Live on the wedge and up your cheese plate game with these seven kinds of cheese from northern Italy – Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino-Alto Adige, in particular – and its alpine neighbor Switzerland.
1. EMMENTALER DOP
Interspersed with holes, or eyes, that develop during maturation, Emmentaler DOP hails from our neighbor Switzerland. The unmistakable flavor is reminiscent of nuts, and the cheese has three varieties that increase in spiciness and body the longer they age: Classic (4 months), the Réserve (8 months), and the Cave (12 months).
2. PARMIGIANO REGGIANO DOP
Produced exclusively in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, and Modena and certain areas within the provinces of Mantua and Bologna, Parmigiano Reggiano generally ages anywhere from 12 to 36 months. The cheese has been featured on tables and in Italian recipes for the last nine centuries. For more than 80 years, its Consortium of Protection presides over the production process to thwart imitations.
3. STELVIO DOP
Made from the milk of cows that roam the mountains of Alto Adige, Stelvio DOP is produced in Bolzano. The cheese’s minimum maturation of 60 days results in a relatively soft, elastic dough that’s ideal for melting.
4. PIAVE DOP
A cooked curd cheese, Piave DOP is produced in the province of Belluno in the Dolomites and has five ripening stages that range from 20 days to more than 18 months. Its delicate flavor intensifies with time but always retains a sweet note.
5. LE GRUYÈRE DOP
Manufactured in the Canton of Fribourg around the municipality of Gruyères, Gruyère has exemplified Swiss excellence for centuries. Hard and compact with a refined aroma, the cheese ages for five to 12 months.
6. MONTASIO DOP
Produced mainly in the provinces of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, Trieste, and Belluno in Fruili-Venezia Giulia, Montasio undergoes four ripening stages. Fresco is delicate while Mezzano and Stagionato have an intense flavor and Stravecchio, the most savory, is excellent for grating. It makes for a delightful addition to any cheese plate.
7. GRANA PADANO DOP
Like Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano is one of Italy’s oldest cheeses, dating back to the 12th century. Its name is derived from its grainy texture (grana) and its origins in the Po River Valley (Val Padana).