The Red Reggiana Cow is a native breed from Northern Italy, introduced by barbarian populations in the 6th century AD. Its milk played a fundamental role in the creation of Parmigiano Reggiano in the ancient abbey of the Benedictine monks over eight centuries ago. Therefore, the red cows can rightly be considered the Mothers of Parmigiano Reggiano.
This intelligent, placid, and incredibly long-lived animal produces a lower quantity of milk compared to the Frisian breed but offers higher yields in cheese production. In the milk of the Red Cows, there is a variant of Casein, the crucial protein in the process of milk transformation into cheese, which imparts superior suitability for extended aging and, consequently, better digestibility to the cheese.
Parmigiano Reggiano made from the milk of Red Reggiana Cows is distinguished by its predisposition to long maturation, richness in flavors and aromas, and superiority in terms of digestibility. An exemplary product in this sector is represented by Parmigiano Reggiano Vacche Rosse produced by our partner Grana D'Oro, which has received three SuperGold awards at the World Cheese Awards.
The history of Grana D'Oro has deep roots and is an eloquent example of the crucial role played by breeders in preserving and promoting ancient breeds. The Grana D'Oro agricultural company has origins that date back a long time. Traditionally, in the countryside, November 11th, the feast day of Saint Martin, was dedicated to moving homes. It was precisely on November 11, 1936, that the Catellani brothers, Domenico, Carlo, and Giulio, along with their entire family, moved to a farm located in Cavriago, in the province of Reggio Emilia. There, they devoted themselves to the breeding of about ten Red Reggiana cows, a commitment they continued even in the 1960s when the Frisian breed, more productive but imported from abroad, began to spread throughout the country. However, the Catellani brothers persevered, and in the 1980s, when the Red Reggiana breed was at risk of extinction, they resumed the production of Parmigiano Reggiano using the milk of Red Cows. Today, Grana D'Oro is one of the leading supporters and preservers of this precious breed and markets its Parmigiano Reggiano Vacche Rosse worldwide, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and, of course, Europe.
We invite you to discover this extraordinary product, the result of the cheesemaker's skill and a close synergy between breeder, territory, and animal, and to participate in this virtuous process of preserving and spreading the precious heritage of Ancient Breeds.
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