The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium recently celebrated the second edition of the Casello d'Oro Awards at the British Museum in London, honoring the 13 winning dairies of the 2024 Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano. The event, held on February 4, 2025, brought together culinary experts, press, and dignitaries to recognize the excellence of Parmigiano Reggiano, a global symbol of Italian tradition and craftsmanship.
The awards celebrated the dairies that excelled in the annual Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano, a competition held across the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) area of origin, which includes the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua (to the right of the Po River), and Bologna (to the left of the Reno River). According to the press release, the competition evaluates 24-26 month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, with additional prizes awarded for 40-month maturation during the Palio Città di Casina and Palio GustiaMO.
The 13 winning dairies of the 2024 Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano include Ambrosi Spa, Caseificio Il Boiardo, Caseificio Sociale La Guardia, Cooperativa Casearia Agrinascente, Latteria Agricola Arrivabene, Latteria Sociale Cavecchia, Latteria Sociale San Giorgio, 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia (with multiple wins across different locations), Rastelli Fratelli, and Società Agricola Dall’Aglio. Additionally, two Honorable Mentions for the best structure and best aromatic profile were awarded to 4 Madonne Caseificio dell'Emilia in Varana di Serramazzoni, Modena.
The evening was hosted by Valentina Harris, a renowned expert on Italian cuisine and a familiar face on the BBC. Italian Ambassador to the UK, Inigo Lambertini, was also in attendance, alongside members of the Italian and British press. “I am particularly pleased that the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium has chosen London as the setting to celebrate such an important event as the Casello d'Oro Awards,” said Lambertini. “Parmigiano Reggiano DOP remains a symbol of Italian excellence, tradition, and know-how, handed down over the centuries by generations of breeders, farmers, and cheesemakers. And in the UK, it has become an indispensable ingredient, strengthening the gastronomic and cultural ties between the two countries.”
The UK is Parmigiano Reggiano's fourth-largest foreign market, with over 6,500 tonnes imported annually. Sales in 2024 grew by 17 percent compared to the previous year, surpassing the global average growth of 13.7 percent. Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Consortium, emphasized the importance of international markets, saying, “We are proud to have celebrated the second edition of the Casello d'Oro Awards and awarded the prize to the 13 dairies that won the Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano in 2024. PDO is an increasingly international product, with an export quota that has almost reached 50 percent.”
The event also highlighted the versatility of Parmigiano Reggiano through a pairing with Scotch whisky, showcasing the shared values of tradition, origin, and maturation. Renowned mixologist Giorgio Bargiani created two signature cocktails for the occasion, pairing Kilchoman Whisky Machir Bay and GlenAllachie 11 Years Old Marsala Wood Finish with 24-month and 40-month Parmigiano Reggiano, respectively. These pairings underscored the cheese's ability to complement a wide range of flavors and settings.
Bertinelli concluded, “For our PDO, which aims to become an iconic global brand, it is not only essential to export the product, but also the product culture. Events such as this represent important occasions to celebrate the marriage between Parmigiano Reggiano and foreign markets and to continue to chart the course to bring out the distinctiveness of our PDO, raising awareness among consumers around the world.”
The Casello d'Oro Awards continue to shine a spotlight on the craftsmanship and heritage behind Parmigiano Reggiano, solidifying its place as a global culinary treasure.
