Po Valley · Italy
Grana Padano.
Grana Padano's crystalline shards dissolve into waves of buttered toast, roasted hazelnuts, and caramel—a gentle umami that lingers without overwhelming. Its natural rind cradles a hard, granular paste that speaks of time spent aging in the Po Valley's misty climate, each bite releasing whispers of salt and age without aggression.
Origin
44.9°N · 11.0°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Grana Padano was created around 1135 by Cistercian monks at Chiaravalle Abbey near Milan as a way to use surplus milk.
It is the world's most-sold PDO cheese by volume, with over 5 million wheels produced annually. It is often compared to Parmigiano-Reggiano, though it has a milder flavor and shorter minimum aging.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · raw
- Family
- Hard
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 9–24 mo
- Protected
- PDO · since 1996
- Intensity
- 3 / 5
- Texture
- hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Grana Padano's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for hard cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 30–60 min before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Use a sturdy knife, or break it into craggy chunks with a spike — shards and shavings beat neat slices.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Grana.
49 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Fruits & Jams
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Grana Padano are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Grana Padano at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
