Best Natural Rind Cheese Types in the World
Considered to be among the world's top quality cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano is made with raw, semi-skimmed milk from cows grazing on fresh grass and hay. It has a hard, gritty texture and its flavors range from nutty to robust and slightly piquant, depending on how long the cheese had matured.
The origins of Parmigiano Reggiano date back to the Middle Ages, when the Benedictine and Cistercian monks reclaimed the Po Valley wetlands and started producing this much-prized cheese. Since it originated and was mainly produced in the two city-states Parma and Reggio Emilia, the cheese was named Parmigiano Reggiano, meaning "a cheese from Parma and Reggio Emilia." The cheese got its name in the 19th century, and the word order is speculated to be purely due to alphabetical order.
THE BEST Parmigiano Reggiano Cheeses

Caseificio di Gavasseto e Roncadella
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2022

Caseificio Sociale Canevaccia
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2021
Latteria Sociale Moderna
Parmigiano Reggiano Stagionato 30-39 Mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

This cheese has been produced on the island of Naxos in the Cyclades for at least a century. Graviera Naxou is made from pasteurised cow milk or a mixture of sheep milk and a maximum of 20% goat milk. It has a thin rind and a light yellow, compact interior filled with small holes.
Graviera Naxou is a hard table cheese with a refreshing taste and light aroma. It has a maximum moisture content of 38% and at least 40% fat content. The milk used for its production comes from breeds that are traditionally raised on the island, which feed on a diet of local plants and herbs that give their milk a unique flavor.
THE BEST Graviera Naxou Cheeses

Nikolas Pittaras Creamery
Graviera Naxou P.D.O. Pittara 12 month aged
Superior Taste Awards - 3 stars 2025, 2024


Nikolas Pittaras Creamery
Graviera Pittara Mpastouni
Mediterranean Taste Awards - Gold 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Serra da Estrela is a semi-soft cheese made from the milk of Bordaleira Serra da Estrela and Churra Mondegueira breeds of sheep. Milking is done by hand, after which the milk is heated, salted, and curdled using thistle extract.
The curd is formed into cheeses, which are left to ripen in humid and cold conditions. The cheese has a creamy, semi-soft interior that is yellowish-white in color, while its flavor is clean, sweet, and slightly sour. This cheese is Portugal's oldest, most traditional food product with international acclaim.
Pair with
Produced exclusively on the island of Sardinia, Pecorino Sardo is a semi-cooked, hard cheese made with whole milk from the pasture-grazing Sarda sheep. This breed is indigenous to Sardinia, raised throughout Italy and considered to be among the best domestic breeds for milk production.
Highly adaptable to different terrains, Sarda sheep feed on fragrant Mediterranean shrubs, which gives Pecorino its distinctive aromatic flavor. It is available in two varieties: Pecorino Sardo Dolce (mild), a sweet and more delicate version, and Pecorino Sardo Maturo (mature), a much stronger flavored cheese that's matured for at least 2 months and pleasantly piquant.
Pair with
This cheese has a long history, and it is the best-known Greek graviera cheese. It is produced using traditional methods and ripened in facilities in Hania, Rethymnos, Iraklion, and Lasithio prefectures on the island of Crete. It is traditionally produced from sheep milk or from a mixture of sheep milk and a maximum of 20% goat milk.
These goats and sheep wander freely on the green pastures of the island, and their diet is based on local plants, which give their milk a special quality that is expressed in this exceptional cheese. It is a hard table cheese with a light yellow color and firm texture.
Chavignol is a small cheese made from raw goat's milk that must weigh at least 60 grams. Its color is white or ivory and it has a dense, moist texture with a thin, moldy rind on the outside. The flavor of Chavignol is full, slightly nutty and 'goaty'.
It can mature for up to three months, and when the rind drastically changes its color and becomes very hard, and the body becomes drier and crumbly, the origin of its name - crottin, meaning horse dung in French, is explained. Chavignol is great when grilled and served hot on a salad or eaten with bread and bacon.
Azeitão is a semi-soft cheese made from unpasteurized sheep milk. The origins of this cheese date back to the 19th century, when Gaspar Henriques de Paiva emigrated to the town of Azeitão. Out of nostalgia for his place of birth, he imported black dairy sheep from his home town to Azeitão and brought cheesemakers from Beira Baixa to make cheeses.
De Paiva's Azeitão cheeses quickly became famous throughout Portugal, winning several awards at agricultural fairs. The milk for this cheese is taken from sheep that graze on natural vegetation in the pastures of Azeitão. The sheep are milked manually, and the milk is mixed with the extract of a local variety of thistle to start the curdling process instead of animal rennet, meaning the cheese is 100% vegetarian.
Pair with
Arseniko Naxou is a Greek cheese originating from the island of Naxos, hence the name. The word arseniko means male or masculine. The cheese is made from raw sheep’s and goat’s milk with the addition of whey.
After it thickens, the cheese is drained in specially designed baskets known as tirovola. In the beginning, its flavor is sweet, but after a few months it develops a spicy and aromatic flavor.
First produced in the 11th century by the Cistercian monks of the Santa Maria di Rovegnano Abbey in Chiaravalle Milanese, Grana Padano is known as one of the very few parmesan cheeses that can possibly compete with the far more famous Parmigiano-Reggiano.
This hard cheese is made from unpasteurized, semi-skimmed cow’s milk and it is available in these varieties: Grana Padano, Trentin Grana, and Grana Grattugiato. It is sold at different ripening stages: Grana Padano (9-16 months), Grana Padano Oltre 16 mesi (over 16 months) and Grana Padano Riserva (over 20 months).
Pair with
VARIATIONS OF Grana Padano
THE BEST Grana Padano Cheeses

Latteria San Pietro
Grana Padano DOP Selezione da Fieno 50 mesi
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

Consorzio Latterie Virgilio
Grana Padano Riserva MN424 Virgilio Selezione
World Cheese Awards - Gold 2023

Comté is a big, hard cheese made from unpasteurized cow's milk, with at least 45% fat and a pressed, cooked paste. Each cheese wheel is unique with numerous taste varieties that can range from milky, spicy, roasted to fruity, buttery or plant-like due to the fact the milk it is made from must be used immediately.
It is made in the Jura massif in the caves of Doubs, Jura and Haute-Saône departments in France. The maturation period lasts at least 120 days and it is turned and scrubbed regularly during the process. Comté also has a seasonal stamp, like winter, summer, mountain Comté or plains Comté.
THE BEST Comté Cheeses

Best Natural Rind Cheese Producers in the World
Grafton Village Cheese, based in Grafton, Vermont, specializes in the production of artisanal cheddar cheese. This company is a part of the nonprofit Windham Foundation, which focuses on promoting Vermont's rural communities. Grafton Village Cheese uses traditional techniques and raw milk from local Jersey cows to craft its cheeses.
Their offerings range from aged cheddars to limited edition flavors.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022, 2019

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009
BEST Grafton Village Cheese Cheeses
Jasper Hill Farm is a cheese producer located in Greensboro, Vermont. The company specializes in creating high-quality cheeses with a focus on local production and sustainable agricultural practices. Jasper Hill provides aging and affinage services and develops cheeses that showcase the dairy culture of Vermont.
They work closely with small local dairies to produce a variety of cheeses, incorporating unique aging environments to enhance flavor and texture.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2022, 2019

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST Jasper Hill Farm Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022, 2020, 2018

World Championship Cheese Contest - Second Runner Up
2024
BEST The Farm at Doe Run Cheeses
Pennyroyal Farm is located in California, and is known for producing farmstead cheese and wine. This farm utilizes sustainable farming practices, integrating solar power and a commitment to maintaining a closed herd of goats and sheep, whose milk is used exclusively for their cheeses.
Their products include a range of cheeses crafted to reflect the unique terroir of the region. Pennyroyal Farm also offers educational farm tours and has a tasting room where visitors can sample their cheese and wine.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023

Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
2023

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2022, 2013
BEST Pennyroyal Farm Cheeses
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022

Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
BEST Caseificio Il Fiorino Cheeses
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022
BEST Brülisauer Käse Cheeses
Best Natural Rind Cheeses in the World
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023
Unpasteurized semi hard natural rind made by Grafton Village Cheese Co. is known for its rich, complex flavors developed through traditional cheesemaking techniques. The natural rind distinguishes this cheese and contributes to its unique texture and taste profile.
This cheese is crafted in small batches, ensuring high quality and attention to detail in each wheel. It is often enjoyed on cheese boards, in culinary dishes, or paired with wines and beers to enhance its nuanced characteristics. Grafton Village Cheese Co. has a strong reputation for producing artisanal cheeses using locally sourced ingredients.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023
The product St. Malachi Reserve is a cheese made by The Farm at Doe Run. This cheese is known for its unique and complex flavor profile, which develops through an extensive aging process. The Farm at Doe Run, located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, is renowned for its artisanal cheeses and sustainable farming practices.
St# Malachi Reserve has earned accolades in various cheese competitions, highlighting its quality and craftsmanship.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2020

American Cheese Society Judging & Competition Awards - 1st Place
2016
Natural Rind Blue is a cheese produced by Cellars at Jasper Hill Farm. This product is known for its earthy flavors and unique characteristics, which come from its natural rind that develops during the aging process. The cheese typically has a mottled, rustic surface with a robust interior that showcases blue veining.
Its flavor profile is rich and complex, often described as having notes of roasted nuts and balanced creaminess. Cellars at Jasper Hill Farm, located in Vermont, is renowned for its artisanal cheeses and meticulous aging techniques, making Natural Rind Blue a standout product in their lineup.
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2019
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class
2024, 2022
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 Natural Rind Cheeses in the World” list until March 21, 2025, 23,474 ratings were recorded, of which 14,603 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.