since 1953 a different
Parmigiano Reggiano
WHAT IS Parmigiano Reggiano?
Parmigiano Reggiano is a renowned Italian cheese made from raw cow’s milk, celebrated for its rich, nutty flavor and granular texture. Often called the “King of Cheeses,” it is crafted exclusively in select regions of Italy (PDO zones), including Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna (west of the Reno River), and Mantua (south of the Po River).
The cheese undergoes a meticulous process and is aged for a minimum of 12 months, with some wheels maturing for over 36 months, enhancing its complex flavors. Parmigiano Reggiano is rich in umami, making it ideal for grating over dishes or enjoying in chunks as a delicacy.
Caseificio Gennari is a member of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, an organization dedicated to safeguarding the authenticity of the cheese and ensuring adherence to traditional methods and quality standards.
Our Parmigiano Reggiano
Our Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has been defined as the “Ferrari of Parmigiano”, which means that we are able to create a true gem every day. What’s our secret? The safety of a comprehensive supply chain from field to finished product: milk from our own farms and from loyal suppliers we have been working with for over 50 years. Milk skimmed as least as possible, little rennet, very little whey, highly controlled brine, manual curd breaking, slow ageing in a moist environment.
All these features make production more difficult and costly, but it makes a difference on your taste buds!
Parmigiano Reggiano Ageing
We carefully select the finest wheels and, with great effort, dedication, and a touch of luck, nurture them patiently. We let them age gracefully for 13, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, 70 months, or even longer.
Discover more about our exceptional reserves!
The gentile ageing
13 AND A HALF MONTHS
Our youngest product, with a gentle flavour and the distinctive aroma of fresh milk. Exceptionally sweet and soft to the palate, to be paired with a good glass of Lambrusco Emiliano and a strawberry and balsamic vinegar compote to enhance its flavour.
The fresh ageing
18 MONTHS
Fresh and delicate as well, with a soft, light-coloured texture, it has a sweet flavour that brings to mind the taste of cream. We recommend it for an appetizing sundowner, paired with a good local Malvasia from our hills and a red onion chutney.
The perfect ageing
24 MONTHS
With a straw yellow, finely crumbly texture, on the palate it is well-balanced, sweet and yet savoury with fresh milk notes. This is the most versatile ageing, suitable to add a delicate note to dishes without being overwhelming. Ideally paired with good Franciacorta sparkling wine and a pear and balsamic vinegar sauce.
The well-balanced ageing
36 MONTHS
Our aged cheese par excellence, this is when it reaches the best texture to fully enjoy the scents and aromas it releases: the scent of hay and meadows, the sweetness of yogurt and a well-balanced flavour. We recommend pairing it with sweet chestnut honey and a good glass of red Tuscan wine.
The complex ageing
48 MONTHS
After ageing for four years, the cheese appears more compact and uneven, though it never loses its main feature: elasticity. The colour is more intensely amber, its flavour is more complex and sharper on the palate, with hazelnut, walnut, chestnut and almond notes
The intense ageing
60 MONTHS
With a bold and intense flavour, spicy notes, citrussy scents and a grassy aroma. A certainly tasty, albeit not spicy, aged cheese. With a pale golden colour, its long ageing has resulted in a crumbly, mineralised texture with the typical flaky breakage. We recommend it paired with good acacia honey and a Pantelleria raisin wine: this strong-flavoured aged cheese combined with the liqueur-like sweetness of the wine will leave you truly astounded.
The warm ageing
70 MONTHS
A more complex ageing, with an intense, stronger flavour compared to the other reserves, but still sweet and delicate – on the palate it hints to chestnut wood. A few more bites, and it releases an aftertaste of bitter chocolate and roasted coffee that makes this aged cheese truly unique in its kind. We recommend pairing it with real aged Modena balsamic vinegar and yeasty craft beer.
The delightful ageing
80 MONTHS
Its texture is comparable to chocolate. It separates along straight, precise lines as you break it in your hands. Its taste is reminiscent of spicy chocolate notes and makes us think of the warm, intense scent of wood. We recommend savouring it with pear Mostarda sauce and a good glass of well-aged Chianti.
The precious ageing
OVER 100 MONTHS
With a strong and intense taste, hazelnut-colour interior hinting to the enveloping flavour of spices. We recommend pairing it with a pear and red wine sauce, and a glass of aged Porto.
The extraordinary ageing
OVER 120 MONTHS
Our greatest challenge.The exceptionality long maturation, which contributes to a unique flavor and texture.
Parmigiano Reggiano Benefits
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is good for your health
Parmigiano Reggiano is a natural source of calcium, phosphorus, and high-quality proteins that help strengthen bones and support the immune system. Naturally lactose- and gluten-free, it has a high satiety index, making it suitable for weight-loss diets. Long aging enhances its digestibility and enriches it with nutrients like tyrosine and selenium, beneficial for brain function and energy metabolism—ideal for athletes, students, and anyone needing sustained energy.
parmigiano reggiano
is free from additives and preservatives
parmigiano reggiano
is naturally lactose free
parmigiano reggiano
is rich in calcium and a source of phosphorus
parmigiano reggiano
is safe to eat during pregnancy
parmigiano reggiano
is for everybody at all ages
OUR BREEDS
The latest big news from Caseificio Gennari: thanks to the production of as many as four different types of Parmigiano Reggiano from four different cow breeds, we can provide a truly unique flavour experience. Learn more about our breeds:
FRIESIAN
The creamy flavour
The cow we all know, with a black and white coat, originally from Holland, the most indefatigable producer of the milk used to make the ‘classic’ version of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. As much as 500 litres of milk are needed to produce one wheel and, thanks to the organoleptic properties of milk, it is also the most suitable type for long ageing. Thanks to our ‘extreme’ processing, even after the longest ageing our cheese retains that unmistakable creamy and sweet taste for which it stands out
BROWN COW
The elegant flavour
The Braunvieh or Bruna Alpina breed features a good balance of quality and quantity of the milk produced, and is particularly suitable for cheese-making. With about 750,000 heads of cattle, this is the second-largest dairy breed in Italy in terms of distribution.
Richer from a nutritional point of view, with a sweet and creamy flavour, we define this type of Parmigiano Reggiano as elegant.
As its milk is thicker, it takes 50 more litres of milk to make one cheese wheel compared to Friesian cows, and greater skill is required from the cheese maker during the curd whisking and breaking stage.
All the products obtained from this fine type of milk are protected by the Razza Bruna Product Promotion Consortium we are members of.
RED COW
The strong flavour
The milk produced by the valuable Red Reggiana Cattle breed mainly differs by a lower yield compared to any other variety.
As well as the regulations of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, to make this type one needs to comply with the Production Regulations for Red Cow Parmigiano. This also includes only using GMO-free certified grass, hay and fodder to feed the cattle and sale starting from 24 months of ageing. The grain is more compact and drier, and its flavour bold and strong.
Our Company
The Gennari Dairy
Caseificio Gennari Sergio & Figli is a family-run dairy with deep roots in the heart of Parma, producing Parmigiano Reggiano since 1953. Combining tradition, passion, and innovation, the Gennari family oversees every stage of production, from milk collection to aging. Their commitment to quality and authenticity has made their cheese a symbol of excellence, appreciated in Italy and worldwide by gourmet enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Other products
Our Parmigiano Boxes
Caseificio Gennari offers a variety of tasting boxes to explore the unique flavors of its Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Taste Different Tasting Box features three 300g wedges of 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, each made from the milk of different cow breeds—Friesian, Red Cow, and Brown Cow—raised in our own cowshed, offering a journey through distinct aromas and textures.
Wedge Tasting Box is an elegant gift set combining our 24- and 36-month aged cheeses with delicious compotes and refined balsamic vinegar, perfect for a gourmet pairing.
We also offer other curated tasting boxes featuring Parmigiano Reggiano combined with select products, creating a complete and memorable tasting experience.