European excellence: Let's say cheers to cheese this summer

Get set for your tastebuds to be transported to northern Italy this summer, with the sparkling wine Prosecco DOC teaming up with versatile cheese Grana Padano PDO to create a range of exciting food and wine pairings. From Prosecco Rosé DOC starring in a strawberry risotto to Prosecco’s refreshing bubbles accompanying picnic nibbles, there’s something to suit every palate this summer.

The partnership between two of Europe’s most exciting wines and cheeses is built on quality – both are products that undergo rigorous tests and must reach the highest standards to earn their badges of honour.

For Prosecco, that’s the ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata’ or ‘DOC’ label, while Grana Padano’s cheeses carry the ‘Denominazione di Origine Protetta’ or ‘DOP’ insignia. Both are Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs), a guarantee of quality that’s built on generations of authentic heritage.

Prosecco DOC is made primarily from Glera grapes grown in the hills of the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions, north of Venice on Italy’s Adriatic coast. It is crafted using the Martinotti method, which creates its crowd-pleasing fresh apple flavours, with the second fermentation – which forms the bubbles – taking place inside a pressurised tank before it’s bottled.

Grana Padano PDO cheese is produced throughout the Po River plain that spans the width of northern Italy, from Piedmont in the west to Veneto in the east, and from Trento in the Alps to Piacenza in Emilia-Romagna. It’s aged for a minimum of nine months and up to more than two years.

Producers of both Prosecco DOC and Grana Padano PDO share a commitment to protecting the beautiful environment in which their gastronomic treats are made.

From alfresco aperitifs to summer picnics

Prosecco DOC gained its designation in 2009 and was joined in 2020 by Prosecco Rosé DOC, with black Pinot Nero grapes – also known as Pinot Noir – bringing the pink colour to the party. That distinctive hue can be used as an ingredient alongside Grana Padano PDO to create a summery strawberry risotto, which is zingy rather than sweet. See here for the recipe.

Equally exciting is to use Prosecco DOC to make a sabayon or light sauce to coat Grana Padano PDO cheese tortelli with asparagus and truffle. The sparkling wine’s freshness helps to capture the flavours of summer, making the dish ideal for alfresco dining.

You don’t just have to spend time in the kitchen, though, to enjoy pairings of Prosecco DOC and Grana Padano PDO this summer. The sweet spot is to pick a Grana Padano PDO cheese that’s been aged for between nine and 16 months, when its creamy and milky flavours are still at the fore, and before its more buttery and nutty notes have developed with further age. Prosecco DOC’s fruity flavours, moderate alcohol content, and lack of tannins make it an ideal accompaniment to these younger cheeses.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Discover more: cheersandcheese.eu

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