Montasio is a mountain

cheese Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...

made from

cow Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are called co ...

milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfeeding, breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. ...

produced in northeastern

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

in the regions of

Friuli-Venezia Giulia Friuli-Venezia Giulia () is one of the 20 regions of Italy and one of five autonomous regions with special statute. The regional capital is Trieste on the Gulf of Trieste, a bay of the Adriatic Sea. Friuli-Venezia Giulia has an area of and a ...

and

Veneto Veneto, officially the Region of Veneto, is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the Northeast Italy, north-east of the country. It is the fourth most populous region in Italy, with a population of 4,851,851 as of 2025. Venice is t ...

. It was awarded a

protected designation of origin The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main purpose is to designat ...

(PDO) in 1986.

History

It takes its name from the famous Montasio plateau, where cheese has been produced since 1200; the first production techniques were refined at the abbey of San Gallo di Moggio Udinese, while the first evidence of the name dates back to the decree of 22 August 1773, when the Council of the city of

Udine Udine ( ; ; ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Carnic Alps. It is the capital of the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity ...

imposed on traders the sale at a fixed price of some products, including this cheese, which, as depicted from that document, the price of 19 soldi a pound was imposed.''DOC cheeses of Italy'', p. 64 Already in 1880, a cooperative movement of

dairies A dairy is a place where milk is stored and where butter, cheese, and other dairy products are made, or a place where those products are sold. It may be a room, a building, or a larger establishment. In the United States, the word may also des ...

was formed to support the production of this cheese. A decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests of 16 March 1987, assigned the Montasio Producers Association the tasks of supervision, control and marketing of Montasio production. Montasio cheese inspired the creation of Italian-Canadian friulano to evade a trademark dispute. Commonly produced in the small farm town of Gemona inside the Friuli-Venezio Giulia region for over 200 years and a little hamlet named Campo Lessie. All farmers took their daily cow's milk production to the cheese maker. A tally was kept, and based on how much milk each family brought in, the corresponding number of cheese wheels were delivered.

Characteristics

* Made from cow's milk * Country of origin: Italy * Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto * Alternative spellings: Montasio fresco * Type: semi-hard. Versions aged longer develop a harder

texture Texture may refer to: Science and technology * Image texture, the spatial arrangement of color or intensities in an image * Surface texture, the smoothness, roughness, or bumpiness of the surface of an object * Texture (roads), road surface c ...

. * Fat content: 32% * Texture: creamy and open * Rind: natural * Color: pale yellow to gold, depending on age

Aging

It is typically aged for a minimum of two months, and some preparations are aged for a year or more. The rind is typically stamped with the date of its production.

References

External links

Montasio official website

Cheeses of Veneto Friuli-Venezia Giulia Veneto Italian products with protected designation of origin Cheeses with designation of origin protected in the European Union {{Italy-cheese-stub

History

Characteristics

Aging

See also

References

External links