Pecorino di Pienza Gran Riserva: the essence of Tuscan pastoral cheesemaking
Pecorino di Pienza Gran Riserva is a hard sheep's-milk cheese aged 12 months, supplied as a whole wheel of about 6 kg. It comes from Fattoria Buca Nuova in Pienza (Siena), in the heart of the Val d'Orcia, where the milk comes from sheep grazing the aromatic pastures of the Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana. The long maturation gives it a hard natural rind, a compact straw-yellow paste and a bold, persistent flavour with notes of hazelnut and dried fruit, making it a reference cheese for professional kitchens and deli counters across Switzerland.
What is Pecorino di Pienza
Pecorino is one of the oldest cheeses in central Italy, made exclusively from sheep's milk. Pienza, a small Renaissance town in the province of Siena listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been the symbolic capital of Tuscan pecorino for centuries: its sheep graze on the clay hills of the Crete Senesi and the Val d'Orcia, rich in wild herbs that shape the aroma of the milk. The Gran Riserva is the most mature expression of this tradition, with an extended ageing that concentrates flavour and aroma.
The producer: Fattoria Buca Nuova
Fattoria Buca Nuova was founded in 1966, when Pietrino and Maria Antonia Cugusi moved with their family from Sardinia to Tuscany, bringing their pastoral sheep-farming and cheesemaking heritage. From 1982 the business grew beyond purely farm production, collecting milk from neighbouring farms, and in 1997 the production facility moved to the artisan zone of Pienza, while keeping its historic sales point. Today the family continues to produce a wide range of Pecorino di Pienza that differ in ageing and character.
Sensory profile
The 12-month Gran Riserva has a hard, natural rind and a compact, slightly crumbly paste of an intense straw-yellow colour. On the palate it is bold and savoury, with a long finish and clear notes of hazelnut, toasted nuts and dried fruit typical of long-aged Tuscan pecorino. It is a cheese with structure and personality, designed to stand out on a cheese board and to add depth when grated.
Technical specifications
Whole wheel of about 6 kg, made from whole sheep's milk, aged 12 months. Hard natural rind. Allergens: milk and milk products. Storage between +4 °C and +10 °C. Country of origin: Italy. The whole-wheel format with natural rind ensures excellent keeping in the cold room and clean portioning at the counter.
Professional uses
On the cheese board, serve it in wedges or shavings with chestnut or acacia honey and fruit preserves, accompanied by good Tuscan bread. Grated, it enriches first courses, baked pasta and risotto with an intense savoury note; use it to finish a pici cacio e pepe or a Tuscan-style risotto. In shavings it dresses autumn salads with pear and walnuts, or a beef carpaccio. For a cheese platter, combine it with younger and flavoured pecorini to build a tasting flight.
Pairings
Pecorino di Pienza Gran Riserva pairs naturally with structured Tuscan red wines such as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino, as well as with chestnut honey, fig or pear preserves, and walnuts. It is a classic on the board alongside Tuscan salami and unsalted Tuscan bread.
Delivery and logistics
B2B and B2C refrigerated delivery throughout Switzerland from the LAPA warehouse in Embrach (Zurich). Cold chain at 2-4 °C guaranteed by the LAPA fleet across Zurich, Winterthur, Dübendorf, Uster, Aargau, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Zug, Bern and Basel. For Ticino (Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno), French-speaking Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Sion), Valais and mountain regions (Davos, St. Moritz, Chur) delivery within 24-48 hours via certified food-grade couriers (Swiss Post Frigo-Express, Planzer, Galliker, Camion Transport). Service tailored for restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, delicatessens, gastronomies, Italian grocery stores and private customers passionate about Italian cuisine.
Who it is for
Designed for restaurants, hotels, delicatessens and gastronomies, caterers, Italian grocery stores and demanding private customers who want an authentic, long-aged Tuscan pecorino in a practical whole-wheel format for clean portioning.
