asiago an Italian cheese named for the commune of Asiago in the province of Vicenza, had only local importance until the 20th century, but is now better known and has become a protected name. It is made from cow’s milk, in the form of wheels weighing from 9 to 14 kg (20 to 30 lb). It is called mezzanello and used as a table cheese when six months old. Asiago vecchio and stravecchio have been aged for 12 and 18 months respectively, and are used for grating, especially over minestrone. It is not unlike the grana cheeses.
