Search locations or food
OR
Sign up

What to eat in Italy? Top 100 Italian Raw Milk Cheeses

Last update: Fri Apr 11 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Italian Raw Milk Cheese Types

01

Cheese

PROVINCE OF PARMA, Italy and  4 more regions
4.7
Parmigiano Reggiano
Parmigiano Reggiano infographic
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

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 Sociale Canevaccia
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi

4.8

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2021

2 Parmigiano Reggiano Dotti 36 mesi
Casearia Dotti
Parmigiano Reggiano Dotti 36 mesi

4.8

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

3 Parmigiano Reggiano minimo 30 mesi
Caseificio Fattoria Scalabrini
Parmigiano Reggiano minimo 30 mesi

4.8

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

4 Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi
Caseificio di Gavasseto e Roncadella
Parmigiano Reggiano Oltre 40 Mesi

4.7

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2022

5 Parmigiano Reggiano 36 Mesi
Caseificio Dismano
Parmigiano Reggiano 36 Mesi

4.7

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Gold 2024, 2022

02

Cheese

PROVINCE OF POTENZA, Italy
4.7
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Produced in the region of Basilicata, Canestrato di Moliterno is made from whole goat's and sheep's milk. It is matured in the so-called fondaci, a type of dry, cold, but well-ventilated semi-underground warehouse typical for the Moliterno area.


Depending on the length of maturation, this hard Italian cheese can be either quite sweet or piquant in flavor, and it can be found marketed in three different varieties: Primitivo, ripened for up to 6 months; Stagionato, ripened for up to 12 months, and Stravecchio, ripened for over a year.

03

Cheese

LOMBARDY, Italy
4.5
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

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

4.8

Rate It

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

4.8

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold 2024

3 Grana Padano PDO
Nuova Castelli
Grana Padano PDO

4.8

Rate It

Global Cheese Awards - Gold 2024, 2019

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

4.7

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Gold 2023

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

4.7

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Gold 2023

04

Cheese

SARDINIA, Italy and  one more region
4.5
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

This hard cooked cheese is made with whole milk from pasture-grazed sheep, and has a particularly salty and slightly piquant flavor. Aged for at least 5 months, Pecorino Romano makes an excellent table cheese, particularly when combined with fresh vegetables and fruit, but after eight months of aging, it is mainly used for grating over classic Roman dishes such as Bucatini all’Amatriciana, Rigatoni alla Carbonara, Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, and Tripe alla Romana.


The origins of Pecorino Romano can be traced back to the Roman Empire, when cheese processing methods were first described by some of ancient Rome's most important writers on agriculture: Varrone, Columella, Virgilio and Pliny the Elder. In 227 BCE, the production of this renowned cheese spread to the neighboring island of Sardinia, where even today almost 90% of Pecorino Romano is produced, while the remaining 10% comes from Lazio and the Tuscan province of Grosseto.

05

Cheese

SARDINIA, Italy
4.5
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

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. 
06
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Back in the 15th century, when Pecorino production used to begin in spring, this Tuscan delicacy was called Cacio Marzolino, meaning March cheese. Nowadays, Pecorino Toscano is also produced in Lazio and Umbria, Tuscany's neighboring regions, and available year-round as either Fresco (fresh) or Stagionato (matured for at least 4 months).


This soft to semi-hard cheese is made with whole milk from sheep feasting on pastures nestled between the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Compared to other varieties of Pecorino cheese, Toscano is only briefly salted and thus retains its delicate, sweet flavor. 
07
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Grana Padano Oltre 16 mesi is a version of Grana Padano that's aged from 16 to 20 months. Due to the aging process, its texture gets crumbly, so this version is often used for grating over various dishes. The flavors are more herbal and milky than in the 9-16 months version of the cheese, and it's also got more aciditiy.


This 16-month version also melts well on the palate, with subtle nutty hints. It's recommended to serve this Grana variety with strawberries and pepper.

THE BEST Grana Padano Oltre 16 mesi Cheeses
1
Caseificio Pennar
Grana Padano Dop Gran Riserva 60 mesi

4.5

Rate It

Concours International de Lyon - Gold 2025

08

Cheese

PROVINCE OF BERGAMO, Italy
4.4
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

This mild-flavored cow's milk cheese has a soft and creamy texture, a strong aroma, and a fruity flavor. Its thin rind ranges in color from rosy to orange, and as it ages, it might develop edible mold. Taleggio is made in square blocks and has a pungent aroma that becomes more pronounced as the cheese ages.


Though it can be eaten on its own, due to its delightful melting properties, Taleggio is also used in cooking. Historically linked to the Alpine valley of Val Taleggio, from which it takes its name, Taleggio cheese has been around since Roman times. 
THE BEST Taleggio Cheeses
1 Taleggio DOP la Baita Latte Crudo
Carozzi Formaggi
Taleggio DOP la Baita Latte Crudo

4.8

Rate It

Concours International de Lyon - Gold 2025

2 Bontàleggio Di Grotta Cave Aged - Taleggio D.o,p
Mauri Formaggi
Bontàleggio Di Grotta Cave Aged - Taleggio D.o,p

4.7

Rate It

World Cheese Awards - Gold 2021

09

Cheese

CAMPANIA, Italy
4.4
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

Bocconcini is an Italian cheese originating from Campania. It is a mozzarella-type cheese that is roughly the size of an egg, made with water buffalo's milk or a combination of buffalo's and cow's milk. These rindless small balls are semi-soft, creamy, elastic and springy in texture, while the flavors are mild, buttery, and slightly sweet.


The name bocconcini means little bites in Italian, referring to the shape and form of the cheese. It is recommended to consume it fresh or use it on pizzas or vegetable-based dishes. Pair it with white wines.

10
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list

One of the oldest cheeses produced in Europe, Pecorino Siciliano is a semi-cooked, hard cheese, made with raw, whole milk from various sheep breeds reared all across the island of Sicily. Easily distinguished by the reed woven basket pattern on its rind, this type of Pecorino has a pronounced herbal aroma, and a well-balanced piquant flavor, which tends to become stronger as the cheese ripens.


It is available in following varieties: Tuma, Primo Sale, Secondo Sale and Stagionato. Both fresh and semi-matured Pecorino Siciliano are great as table cheeses, typically served with bread and olives, while the more matured versions are especially good for grating and adding flavor to various pasta dishes.

Pair with
11
Cheese
METROPOLITAN CITY OF NAPLES, Italy
4.4
12
Cheese
APULIA, Italy
4.3
13
14
15
Cheese
APULIA, Italy
4.3
16
Cheese
BAGOLINO, Italy
4.3
17
18
19
Cheese
AOSTA VALLEY, Italy
4.2
20
Cheese
FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, Italy
4.2
21
Cheese
PROVINCE OF RAGUSA, Italy
4.2
22
Cheese
SARDINIA, Italy
4.2
23
Cheese
ASIAGO, Italy
4.1
24
25
Cheese
PROVINCE OF ASTI, Italy
4.1
26
27
28
Cheese
PROVINCE OF TREVISO, Italy  and  2 more regions
4.0
29
Cheese
PROVINCE OF VERONA, Italy
3.9
30
31
32
Cheese
FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, Italy
3.9
33
Cheese
PROVINCE OF CUNEO, Italy
3.9
34
35
36
37
Cheese
TRENTO, Italy
3.5
38
Cheese
SOUTH TYROL, Italy  and  one more region
3.2
39
Cheese
PROVINCE OF ENNA, Italy
2.7
40
Cheese
SARDINIA, Italy
2.5
41
Cheese
PALERMO, Italy
n/a
42
Cheese
PROVINCE OF CUNEO, Italy
n/a
43
44
Cheese
FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, Italy
n/a
45
Cheese
PROVINCE OF FOGGIA, Italy
n/a
46
47
48
49
Cheese
VALTELLINA, Italy
n/a
50
Cheese
PROVINCE OF UDINE, Italy
n/a
51
Cheese
SICILY, Italy
n/a
52
53
54
55
Cheese
CASTELLINA, Italy
n/a
56
Cheese
PROVINCE OF POTENZA, Italy
n/a
57
Cheese
COMINO VALLEY, Italy
n/a
58
Cheese
PROVINCE OF CROTONE, Italy
n/a
59
60
Cheese
TRENTINO, Italy
n/a
61
Cheese
FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, Italy
n/a
62
Cheese
LOMBARDY, Italy
n/a
63
Cheese
LODI, Italy
n/a
64
Cheese
TRENTO, Italy
n/a
65
66
Cheese
PROVINCE OF BERGAMO, Italy
n/a
67
Cheese
TRENTINO-SOUTH TYROL, Italy
n/a
68
Cheese
PROVINCE OF VARESE, Italy
n/a
69
Cheese
PROVINCE OF CUNEO, Italy
n/a
70
71
Cheese
OSSOLA VALLEY, Italy
n/a
72
Cheese
PROVINCE OF SALERNO, Italy
n/a
73
Cheese
LIVINALLONGO DEL COL DI LANA, Italy
n/a
74
Cheese
FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, Italy
n/a
75
Cheese
TRENTINO, Italy
n/a
76
Cheese
VALTELLINA, Italy
n/a
77
78
Cheese
PROVINCE OF TREVISO, Italy
n/a
79
Cheese
CAMONICA VALLEY, Italy
n/a
80
Cheese
PROVINCE OF VERCELLI, Italy
n/a
81
Cheese
PROVINCE OF LODI, Italy
n/a
82
83
Cheese
PROVINCE OF TREVISO, Italy
n/a
84
Cheese
PROVINCE OF TREVISO, Italy
n/a
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
Cheese
CASTIGLION FIORENTINO, Italy
n/a
92
Cheese
PREPOTTO / PRAPROT, Italy
n/a
93
Cheese
GRAVINA IN PUGLIA, Italy
n/a
94
95
Cheese
PIEDMONT, Italy
n/a
96
Cheese
ELVA SERRE, Italy
n/a
97
Cheese
PIEDMONT, Italy
n/a
98
99
Cheese
VENETO, Italy
n/a
100
Cheese
METROPOLITAN CITY OF CAGLIARI, Italy
n/a
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Italian Raw Milk Cheese Producers

01

Cheese

REGGIO EMILIA1, Italy
4.5
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Nuova Castelli, based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, specializes in the production and distribution of Italian cheeses, including PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) products such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Gorgonzola. The company was established in 1892 and has expanded its operations internationally, exporting Italian cheeses to various markets around the world.


Nuova Castelli supports traditional cheese-making techniques while also implementing modern technologies to ensure quality and sustainability.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold

2023

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2021

Concours International de Lyon - Gold

2025

BEST Nuova Castelli Cheeses
02

Cheese

GROTTAGLIE, Italy
4.5
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List
Caseificio InMasseria is an Italian cheese producer located in the Apulia region. The company specializes in crafting traditional cheeses using local ingredients and artisanal methods. One of their notable products is burrata, a fresh cheese made from mozzarella and cream.
AWARDS

Italian Cheese Awards - Nominee

2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017

Italian Cheese Awards - ICA

2022, 2019, 2017, 2015

BEST Caseificio Inmasseria Cheeses
03

Cheese

BERGAMO, Italy
4.5
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Gold

2023, 2022

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2024, 2023, 2022, 2019

BEST Zanetti Cheeses
04
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Caseificio Pennar is located in Italy, specializing in producing Asiago cheese, a traditional Italian cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese company is known for following traditional methods that have been passed down through generations, focusing on quality and authenticity.


They offer a range of cheeses aged for different periods.
AWARDS

Concours International de Lyon - Gold

2025

Global Cheese Awards - Gold

2024, 2023

Global Cheese Awards - Best

2023

BEST Caseificio Pennar Cheeses
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Italian Raw Milk Cheeses

01

Cheese

CASTIGLION FIORENTINO, Italy
5.0
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

La Castana is a refined blue cheese made from raw cow's milk, crafted by De’ Magi. The cheese is enriched with rum, cocoa powder, and candied chestnuts, creating a unique and complex flavor profile. Its smooth, moist, and crumbly texture contrasts the sweetness of chestnuts with the bitterness of cocoa and the acidity brought by the rum.


Awarded for its complexity, La Castana offers four distinct flavors: savory, lactic, animal, and vegetable, with the rum providing an acidic edge and the cocoa contributing bitterness. The chestnuts balance these flavors with sweetness. Its deep aroma evokes chocolate cake, mushrooms, and underbrush, making it a perfect choice for meditation or after a meal, ideally paired with a fine dessert wine.
AWARDS

Italian Cheese Awards - Nominee

2020

Italian Cheese Awards - ICA

2020

02
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Don Carlo is an Italian cheese made from the raw milk of Bruna Alpina cows. This cheese is semi-hard, and it matures for several months, resulting in a rich, complex flavor profile. It has a smooth, creamy texture with a slightly nutty taste, complemented by hints of butter and grass.


The aging process also imparts a mild spiciness to the cheese, making it a versatile option for pairing with a variety of foods, especially cured meats, fruits, and wines. Don Carlo is known for its natural rind and is often enjoyed as a table cheese or grated over dishes.
AWARDS

Italian Cheese Awards - ICA

2019, 2017, 2015

03
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) made by Castelli is a high-quality Italian cheese renowned for its rich flavor and granular texture. Crafted using traditional methods, it is made from raw cow's milk and aged for a minimum of 12 months to develop its characteristic taste.


This cheese is often used grated over pasta, risotto, and soups, or enjoyed on its own with wine and fruits.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Best

2024

Global Cheese Awards - Gold

2024, 2023

04
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Lou Bergier Pichin is a raw milk cheese with a delicate and sophisticated flavor profile, capturing the essence of the Occitan alpine pastures. Rich in floral notes, honey aromas, and memories of traditional mountain landscapes, this cheese is a tribute to the shepherds of the region, particularly Grandfather Magno.


Lou Bergier Pichin features a soft, creamy texture and a subtle, yet elegant taste. It pairs wonderfully with fresh dates, potato and thyme pie, creamy fresh peas soup, and toasted bread with mother yeast. For those who enjoy the sweet and savory combination, it complements shortcrust pastry with caramelized figs made with Burro 1889. 
05
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List

Gran Pennar di Montagna is a cheese produced by Caseificio Pennar, a dairy located in the Asiago plateau region of Italy. The cheese is known for its hard texture and rich, savory flavor. It is likely aged for several months to develop its complex taste profile, which includes nutty and slightly sweet undertones.


This cheese is typically used in culinary applications where a robust flavor is desired, such as grating over pastas, soups, or salads.
AWARDS

Global Cheese Awards - Gold

2024, 2023

Global Cheese Awards - Best

2023

06
Rate it
Wanna try?
Add To List
AWARDS

International Cheese Awards - Gold

2024

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 Italian Raw Milk Cheeses” list until April 11, 2025, 5,506 ratings were recorded, of which 4,000 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.

Show Map
Italian Raw Milk Cheeses