There is arguably no other food product in the world that so succinctly captures the essence and concept of terroir: Parmigiano Reggiano, known throughout the world as the “king of cheeses.”
If we define terroir as the unique combination of soil, exposure, climate, and human intervention resulting in a food product or wine that can only be produced in a given area using traditional local methods, Parmigiano Reggiano would seem to be the first example in the dictionary entry for the term.
Across the world, and notably in North America and South America, cheesemakers have tried to reproduce the exact same ingredients, conditions, and methods for making Parmigiano Reggiano. But their imitations, often called “Parmesan cheese,” never even come close to creating Parmgiano Reggiano’s unique flavor and crumbly texture.
Even when made on the north side of the Po River (in Italy’s Po River Valley where Parmigiano Reggiano is farmed and produced), the results are starkly different. Grana Padano, another one of Italy’s most coveted cheeses, is delicious. But it only vaguely resembles Parmigiano Reggiano despite the fact that the production is nearly identical and the cows are raised and milked just a stone’s through from the cheese’s more famous relative.
On Monday, November 18 in Ft. Worth, Texas, the IACC Texas will be co-presenting master classes with top Italian food and wine experts, including Federico Bolla, co-founder of Ponte Collaborative, a communications & design agency focused on food & wine, who will be discussing what makes Parmigiano Reggiano so unique, how to store and serve it properly, and how to use it in the kitchen.
It’s just one of the genuine Italian food products that they will be discussing.
Whether you work in the food and wine trade or are simply an Italian food lover, these seminars are a great opportunity to dive into the many reasons why this cheese is so special.
Click here for details and registration.
We hope to see you there!
These events have also been underwritten by the Italian government’s True Italian Taste campaign, which promotes awareness of authentic Italian food and wine products and foodways.
