Abruzzo · Italy
Pecorino di Farindola.
A austere, crystalline sheep's cheese that cuts like flint and tastes of high-altitude pastures—sharp and mineral-forward with a distinctive bitter edge that lingers. Its natural rind cradles a dense, hard paste that releases herbaceous, almost peppery notes as it melts, leaving behind the unmistakable savory intensity of aged mountain milk and time.
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Origin
42.2°N · 13.9°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Pecorino di Farindola is one of Italy's rarest cheeses, coagulated exclusively with rennet from pig intestines—one of only a few cheeses in the world to use this coagulant. Made by women (by tradition) in a few villages near Gran Sasso, it is safeguarded by a Slow Food presidium rather than a PDO — an endangered tradition kept alive by a handful of producers.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Sheep · raw
- Family
- Hard
- Rind
- natural
- Age
- 3–24 mo
- Intensity
- 4 / 5
- Texture
- hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Pecorino di Farindola'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 Pecorino.
40 pairings across 5 categories.
Wine
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Pecorino di Farindola are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Pecorino di Farindola at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
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