Grana Padano

Similar in character to Parmigiano-Reggiano but milder, Grana Padano is made from skimmed cow’s milk in five Italian regions: Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Piedmont, Trentino, and Veneto. The cheese, which is aged from 9 months to 24 months or more, has a mild, almost sweet flavor that grows more full flavored and complex with time. When the cheese is young, the texture is soft and somewhat crumbly; with age, it becomes much grainier and develops crystalline patches. Like its better-known cousin, Parmigiano-Reggiano, authentic Grana Padano carries a PDO label.