Il Palagiaccio Gran Mugello Tuscany Riserva 16 months Aged - 12 Lbs

The GranToscano is excellent examples of high quality cheese making, which is still regarded as an authentic art in Tuscany. It is made from fresh cow milk, from the historic dairy farm of " Il Palagiaccio". The GranToscano is characterized by its ivory colored, compact texture and intriguingly explosive flavor. Initially it reveals the sweet delicate taste of the milk which then gives way to an intense buttery, nut flavor and leaves your mouth with the distinct taste of extra virgin olive oil. This is why it is said: "that its a cheese to savor, a cheese that melts in your mouth". The cheese wheels are worked in the artisan tradition and as a result are all different from one another varying between 12-16 lbs in weight.
They are massaged individually every week with extra virgin Tuscan olive oil. The GranToscano is aged in the "Ubaldini Grottos" which are located beneath the medieval " Palagiaccio " dating back around the 1200's. This place was a stronghold of the feudal "Ubaldini" family, the patriarch Sir Ugolino of Senni was mentioned in Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" as being a fearless cavalier and an illustrious member of this noble family. Cheeses of such excellent lineage have to be a must for important Tuscan social gatherings.
Two of the best food and wine combinations that we recommend with these cheeses are:
- A structured red wine, that is robust and with the right amount of mature tannins.
- A fine dry white wine that has aromatic floral notes and hints of vanilla.
 
The origin of Palagiaccio historic farm dated back more than one thousand years ago. At the end of the first millenium, the noble Ubaldini family controlled a large part of the Apennines and during the Early Middle Ages they constructed a fortified garrison on the most rich soils of the Mugello valley.
 
Mugello is a land rich in values and traditions, and it's just one of those years that still keeps alive the value of a unique product. And 'the feast of a territory, which is gathered in order to present the result of his patient and daily work. Grand Mugello Ubaldino is a straw-colored cheese compact, derived from simple ingredients: raw cow's milk, cultures, rennet, salt. Grand Mugello Ubaldio is a real excellence of Tuscany and Mugello, home to the Historical Farm Palagiaccio producer of cheese. This charming place has preserved its characteristics of a fortified farm still in operation.