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Top 100 Natural Rind Cheeses in the World

Last update: Fri Mar 21 2025
Top 100 Natural Rind Cheeses in the World
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Natural Rind Cheese Types in the World

01

Cheese

PROVINCE OF PARMA, Italy and  4 more regions
4.7
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano infographic
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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
1 Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
Caseificio di Gavasseto e Roncadella
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi

5.0

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World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2022

2 Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
Caseificio Sociale Canevaccia
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi

5.0

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World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2021

3 Parmigiano Reggiano PDO
Nuova Castelli
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO

5.0

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Global Cheese Awards - Best 2024

4
Latteria Sociale Moderna
Parmigiano Reggiano Stagionato 30-39 Mesi

5.0

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World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

5 Parmigiano Reggiano Dotti 36 mesi
Casearia Dotti
Parmigiano Reggiano Dotti 36 mesi

5.0

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World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

02

Cheese

NAXOS ISLAND, Greece
4.7
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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
1 Graviera Naxou P.D.O. Pittara 12 month aged
Nikolas Pittaras Creamery
Graviera Naxou P.D.O. Pittara 12 month aged

4.9

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Superior Taste Awards - 3 stars 2025, 2024

2 Graviera Naxou P.D.O.
E.A.S. Naxos
Graviera Naxou P.D.O.

4.8

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Taste Olymp Awards - Gold 2017

3 Graviera Naxou PDO Pittara
Nikolas Pittaras Creamery
Graviera Naxou PDO Pittara

4.7

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Superior Taste Awards - 2 stars 2024

4 Graviera Pittara Mpastouni
Nikolas Pittaras Creamery
Graviera Pittara Mpastouni

4.7

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Mediterranean Taste Awards - Gold 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

03

Cheese

SERRA DA ESTRELA, Portugal
4.6
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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. 
04

Cheese

SARDINIA, Italy
4.6
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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. 
05
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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. 
06
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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. 
07

Cheese

PALMELA, Portugal
4.6
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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. 
08

Cheese

NAXOS ISLAND, Greece
4.6
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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.

09

Cheese

LOMBARDY, Italy
4.5
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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). 
THE BEST Grana Padano Cheeses
1 Grana Padano Reserva
Bradburys Cheese
Grana Padano Reserva

5.0

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International Cheese Awards - Gold 2024, 2023

2 Grana Padano DOP Selezione da Fieno 50 mesi
Latteria San Pietro
Grana Padano DOP Selezione da Fieno 50 mesi

5.0

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World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

3 Grana Padano PDO
Nuova Castelli
Grana Padano PDO

5.0

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Global Cheese Awards - Gold 2024, 2019

4 Grana Padano Riserva MN424 Virgilio Selezione
Consorzio Latterie Virgilio
Grana Padano Riserva MN424 Virgilio Selezione

4.9

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World Cheese Awards - Gold 2023

5 Grana Padano MN432 Virgilio Selezione
Consorzio Latterie Virgilio
Grana Padano MN432 Virgilio Selezione

4.9

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World Cheese Awards - Gold 2023

10

Cheese

FRANCHE-COMTÉ, France
4.5
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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
1 Comté AOP plus de 24 mois
Fromager Marie-Anne Cantin
Comté AOP plus de 24 mois

5.0

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2 Comté
Fromagerie Chez Virginie
Comté

5.0

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3 Comté
Cremerie Marcel Petite
Comté

5.0

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4
Fruitiere Du Pays Grandvallier
Comté

5.0

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Concours International de Lyon - Gold 2025

5 Comtés Juraflore à La Coupe
JuraFlore - Fort des Rousses
Comtés Juraflore à La Coupe

4.9

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World Cheese Awards - Gold 2024

11
Cheese
SARDINIA, Italy  and  one more region
4.5
12
13
14
15
Cheese
DOUBS, France
4.5
16
17
18
19
Cheese
GRUYÈRES, Switzerland
4.4
20
Cheese
CASTILLA-LA MANCHA, Spain
4.4
21
Cheese
LESSER POLAND VOIVODESHIP, Poland
4.4
22
Cheese
GORGONZOLA, Italy
4.4
23
Cheese
SAICOURT, Switzerland
4.4
24
Cheese
NORTHEAST REGION, Brazil
4.4
25
26
27
Cheese
METSOVO, Greece
4.4
28
Cheese
VALTELLINA, Italy
4.4
29
Cheese
MINAS GERAIS, Brazil
4.4
30
Cheese
ARDÈCHE, France
4.4
31
Cheese
SILESIAN VOIVODESHIP, Poland
4.4
32
33
Cheese
METROPOLITAN CITY OF NAPLES, Italy
4.4
34
Cheese
CANTON OF VAUD, Switzerland
4.4
35
Cheese
PODHALE, Poland
4.4
36
Cheese
LIVNO, Bosnia and Herzegovina
4.4
37
Cheese
GRAZALEMA, Spain
4.4
38
39
40
Cheese
SERPA, Portugal
4.4
41
Cheese
CANGAS DE ONÍS, Spain
4.4
42
43
Cheese
BRAGANÇA DISTRICT, Portugal
4.4
44
45
Cheese
CETINJE MUNICIPALITY, Montenegro
4.4
46
Cheese
SALERS, France
4.4
47
Cheese
APULIA, Italy
4.3
48
Cheese
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico
4.3
49
Cheese
CRETE, Greece
4.3
50
Cheese
MINAS GERAIS, Brazil
4.3
51
Cheese
GREECE  and  one more region
4.3
52
Cheese
CAMPANIA, Italy
4.3
53
54
55
56
57
58
Cheese
HAUTE-SAVOIE, France
4.3
59
Cheese
BAGOLINO, Italy
4.3
60
Cheese
MIDI-PYRÉNÉES, France
4.3
61
62
63
Cheese
BASQUE COUNTRY, Spain
4.3
64
Cheese
CASTELO BRANCO DISTRICT, Portugal
4.3
65
Cheese
AOSTA VALLEY, Italy
4.2
66
Cheese
CABRALES, Spain
4.2
67
68
Cheese
FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, Italy
4.2
69
70
Cheese
PYRÉNÉES-ATLANTIQUES, France
4.2
71
Cheese
PROVINCE OF ZAMORA, Spain
4.2
72
73
Cheese
PROVINCE OF RAGUSA, Italy
4.2
74
75
Cheese
SARDINIA, Italy
4.2
76
Cheese
BURSA PROVINCE, Turkiye  and  one more region
4.2
77
Cheese
RIANS, France
4.2
78
79
Cheese
CATALONIA, Spain
4.2
80
Cheese
ÉVORA DISTRICT, Portugal
4.2
81
Cheese
PICO ISLAND, Portugal
4.2
82
Cheese
KOS, Greece
4.2
83
84
Cheese
NĂSAL, Romania
4.2
85
86
Cheese
SAINT-MARCELLIN, France
4.2
87
Cheese
SÃO JORGE ISLAND, Portugal
4.2
88
Cheese
ABONDANCE, France
4.2
89
Cheese
ROCAMADOUR, France
4.2
90
Cheese
SAINTE-MAURE-DE-TOURAINE, France
4.2
91
Cheese
LOMBARDY, Italy  and  one more region
4.1
92
Cheese
ROQUEFORT-SUR-SOULZON, France
4.1
93
Cheese
ASIAGO, Italy
4.1
94
Cheese
LILLE, France
4.1
95
Cheese
COUNTY CORK, Ireland
4.1
96
Cheese
LISBON DISTRICT, Portugal
4.1
97
98
Cheese
ARAGON, Spain
4.1
99
100
Cheese
SWITZERLAND
4.1
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Natural Rind Cheese Producers in the World

01

Cheese

GRAFTON, United States of America
4.7
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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
02

Cheese

GREENSBORO, United States of America
4.7
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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
03

Cheese

COATESVILLE, United States of America
4.7
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The Farm at Doe Run is based in Pennsylvania and is known for its commitment to sustainable farming and quality artisanal cheeses. They produce a variety of cheeses, including cow, goat, and sheep milk cheeses that have received multiple awards at national cheese competitions.
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
04

Cheese

BOONVILLE, United States of America
4.7
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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

05

Cheese

ROCCALBEGNA, Italy
4.7
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Caseificio Il Fiorino, established in 1957, is known for producing traditional Italian cheeses. This family-run business specializes in the production of pecorino cheese, leveraging sheep's milk sourced locally. Their cheese-making process combines traditional methods with modern technology to enhance both the quality and variety of their 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
06

Cheese

CANTON OF AARGAU, Switzerland
4.5
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Brülisauer Käse is a cheese production company based in Brülisau, Switzerland. The company specializes in making traditional Swiss cheeses, including Appenzeller cheese, known for its distinct flavor derived from herbal brine treatments. Brülisauer Käse AG produces its cheeses using milk from local farms, emphasizing quality and regional sourcing.
AWARDS

World Championship Cheese Contest - Best of Class

2024, 2022

BEST Brülisauer Käse Cheeses
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Natural Rind Cheeses in the World

01
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AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2024, 2023

02
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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

03

Cheese

COATESVILLE, United States of America
4.9
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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

04

Cheese

GREENSBORO, United States of America
4.9
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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

05
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AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2024

06

Cheese

CANTON OF AARGAU, Switzerland
4.8
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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.