Cheese travel · CHEESE FARM VISITS IN PARMA
Good cheese farm visits in Parma fill up weeks ahead and the small-group ones go first. Below: the 9 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Meet at NH Parma at 8:30 for a short van ride to a family-run cheese factory. Guides such as George, Roberto, Danielle, and Loris explain each step from milk vats to aging room, then serve Parmigiano Reggiano with local wine, balsamic vinegar, and other delicacies.
“The tour was amazing! Pietro was an amazing guide & the cheese was so good.”
Meet at NH Parma near the train station at 8:30 am for a short countryside transfer to a working caseificio. Watch milk become Parmigiano-Reggiano, see the salting and aging rooms, and taste two ages with balsamic vinegar and local sparkling wine. Guides such as Sergio, Loris, Daniele, and George are praised for clear, friendly explanations.
“This was super fun and I’m so glad I did it. The tour was very educational and I was able to see, up close, how they make their parmigiano.”
At Azienda Agricola Bertinelli near Parma, you’ll tour a cheese dairy dating to 1895 with an English or Italian guide such as Lorenzo or Giulia. Book the 7:30 or 8:30 AM start to see production in action, then taste 15, 24, and 36-month Parmigiano Reggiano with wine and Parmigiano cream.
“Amazing!!! We learned so much about the king of cheese - parmesan reggiano! Lorenzo out guide was so good and informative. And the tasting and selection of prosciutto and other market foods were delicious. Would 100% recommend. Highlight of this Italy trip”
From Parma’s NH Hotel, a small group travels to a traditional Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy. Guides such as Mattia, George, Loris, and Sergio explain the cheese-making process, from milk vats to salting and aging. You’ll see the Consorzio inspection marks, taste several ages of cheese, and pair it with local sparkling wine.
“We are so glad we did this experience! We learned a lot and met some very nice travelers! Lawrence, our guide was very knowledgeable and outstanding!”
Leave Parma at 8:30 am in an air-conditioned vehicle for a small Parmigiano Reggiano dairy. You may see the cows, fresh cheese-making, aging wheels, and brining work before tasting young and aged cheese with local wine. English is offered, and guides such as Sergio add humor and clear detail.
“We missed the train from Bologna and we were not able to meet at the meeting point at 8.30. I messaged the customer support and the tour guide. They quickly replied and suggested me to go to the cheese factory to catch up the tour. We took a taxi to the factory, not very far, around Eur20. Luckily we didn’t miss too much. This tour is amazing, leant a lot about the cheese making process and of course tried some amazing cheese, 22m and 30m with wine. The tour guide took care of us well. In addition, the tour mates are very nice, talkative and very fun.”
Spend about 8½ hours visiting two small producers near Parma. You’ll watch Parmigiano Reggiano being made and aged, then tour a historic Parma ham factory. Guides such as Mattia and Sergio explain the work clearly, with tastings of several cheeses, hand-cut prosciutto, breadsticks, and local wine. Train tickets from Bologna are available as an option.
“The tour was great. The making of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese was fascinating. We saw hands-on how the cheese is made, labeled and stored for aging. We enjoyed the various aged cheese samples, as well as a glad of wine. The second stop on the tour was at a farm for processing and curing prosciutto. It was also an interesting process. And we enjoyed some prosciutto and wine, following the tour. For my husband and I, the highlight was the cheese tour. So interesting. The”
Meet at 8:30 am in Parma for a three-hour, English-language visit to a small Parmigiano-Reggiano factory. You’ll watch the cheese being made, see the casello, brining room, and aging room, then taste cheeses of different ages. Groups are capped at eight, with transport to and from the factory included.
“We can 100% recommend doing this tour. Mattia is super friendly and very knowledgeable about the region and the cheese making process. It helps that his parents run the cheese factory so he‘s basically grown up around the cheese and you can tell he‘s passionate about it. Next time we‘re in the area we‘ll definitely book another tour with him!”
At Caseificio Saliceto near Parma, you’ll see how Parmigiano Reggiano is made, from working milk to freshly cut wheel. Choose the 8:45 AM production tour or the 10:30 AM cheesemakers’ version, with explanations in English or Italian, tastings of three ages of cheese, fresh ricotta, fruit, and grissini. Silvia and Maurizio lead some sessions.
“We werden hartelijk ontvangen en kregen met zijn 2-en een privé tour in het engels van Elena. Ze deed het zorgvuldig, en checkte regelmatig of we het ingewikkelde proces van Parmigiano Reggiano met zijn 5 regels goed hadden begrepen. Natuurlijk nog 2 heerlijke stukken kaas (24 mnd oud) ingeseald mee genomen. Deze tour is echt aan te raden!”
Spend about 8.5 hours exploring Parma’s food traditions with a private guide. See Parmigiano Reggiano made at a small dairy, taste cheeses aged 12 to 36 months, then visit a farm and historic Culatello cellars in Polesine Parmense. Lunch includes cured meats, fresh pasta, desserts, wine, and coffee. Transportation is optional.
“Michelle was the best tour guide we could have asked for! We didn't know too much about what to expect, it was a one on one, personal tour with the guide... just my husband, myself, Michelle (guide), and the driver. We got to visit a small dairy farm/factory that produced the Read more”
Pick a vat, a cellar or a table.
