Grana Padano DOP Whole Wheel from Latteria Sociale Mantova
Grana Padano DOP is a cooked, hard, slow-ripened cheese made from partially skimmed raw cow's milk. This whole wheel from Latteria Sociale Mantova carries registration MN 427, is aged for a minimum of 10 months and weighs about 40 kg. Its paste is granular, crumbly and straw-coloured, with a fragrant, balanced and lightly savoury flavour. As a Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) cheese, it is produced under strict rules across the historic Po Valley dairy district.
What Grana Padano DOP Is
Grana Padano is one of the most consumed PDO cheeses in the world. According to tradition it was first made in 1135 at the Chiaravalle Abbey near Milan, where Cistercian monks created a recipe to preserve their surplus milk into a long-keeping cheese. The grainy, fracturing texture of the paste gave it the name grana. The production area covers a large part of northern Italy, and ripening transforms the curd into a deeply aromatic cheese rich in protein and calcium.
The Producer: Latteria Sociale Mantova
Latteria Sociale Mantova Soc. Agr. Coop. was founded in 1929 in Porto Mantovano, in the province of Mantua (Lombardy). It is today one of the largest Grana Padano DOP cooperatives, processing more than 700,000 litres of milk per day across its Mantuan dairies and producing around 1,380 wheels per day. Its wheels carry the registrations MN 427, MN 437 and MN 473. The MN 427 Grana won the Super Gold medal in the over-16-months category at the 2011 World Cheese Awards in Birmingham.
Sensory Profile
At 10 months the paste is pale straw-yellow, finely granular and friable, breaking into flakes rather than slicing cleanly. The aroma is milky and fragrant; the taste is delicate, sweet-savoury and never sharp, with the lactic notes of a young Grana. The rind is hard, thick and golden, embossed with the diamond-shaped Grana Padano marks.
Technical Specifications
Cooked hard cheese from partially skimmed raw cow's milk. Minimum ageing 10 months. Average wheel weight about 40 kg. Average nutritional values per 100 g: 398 kcal (1654 kJ), 33 g protein, 29 g fat, 0 g carbohydrate, 1.5 g salt, 1,165 mg calcium. Ingredients: cow's milk, salt, calf rennet, preservative egg lysozyme. Allergens: milk and dairy products, egg (lysozyme). Plant approved IT 03 642 CE. Store between +4 and +8 degrees C.
Professional Uses
Grate over fresh and dry pasta, lasagne and baked dishes; a classic finish for risotto alla milanese, mantecato off the heat with cold butter and grated Grana. Shave with a peeler over beef carpaccio, rocket salads and bresaola. Serve in irregular chunks on a cheese board with Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP, chestnut honey and fresh pears. Use the rind to add depth to broths, minestrone and soups instead of discarding it. A 40 kg wheel allows high-volume kitchens to portion grated, shaved and chunk formats from a single supply.
Pairings
Pairs naturally with Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP, honey, pears and walnuts. Excellent with structured Italian red wines and with dry pasta as a finishing cheese. On the antipasto board it sits well alongside cured meats and other Italian cheeses.
Common Mistakes
Do not grate it long before service: grated Grana dries out and loses aroma within hours. Do not store it sealed in cling film for long periods (it sweats); wrap in cloth or paper inside a container. Do not confuse Grana Padano with Parmigiano Reggiano: they are two distinct PDOs with different rules, ageing and flavour.
Delivery and Logistics
B2B and B2C refrigerated delivery throughout Switzerland from the LAPA warehouse in Embrach (Zurich). Cold chain at 2-4 degrees C guaranteed by the LAPA fleet across Zurich, Winterthur, Uster, Aargau, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Zug 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, delicatessens, hotels, gastronomies, Italian grocery stores and private customers passionate about Italian cuisine.
