The King of Cheeses: Your Guide to Selling Murray's Parmigiano Reggiano

Cheese Details

  • Cheese Name: Murray's Parmigiano Reggiano
  • Producer/Brand: Murray's Cheese
  • Country/Region of Origin: Italy / Emilia-Romagna (Provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, Mantua)
  • Milk Type & Treatment: Raw, partially skimmed Cow's milk
  • Cheese Style: Grana / Hard Grating Cheese
  • Aging: 24 Months

Introduction

Welcome to the undisputed King of Cheeses! Parmigiano Reggiano is more than just an ingredient; it's a 900-year-old piece of culinary history, a cornerstone of Italian cuisine, and a must-have for any serious cheese counter.1 The version you have here, hand-selected by Murray's, represents the pinnacle of this tradition.3 This guide is designed to give you the stories, tasting notes, and tips you need to sell this incredible cheese with the passion and expertise it deserves. Get ready to help your customers discover why not all "parmesan" is created equal.

The Quick Pitch

Elevator Pitch

This is the authentic King of Italian Cheeses, aged for 24 months to achieve the perfect balance of nutty, savory, and sweet flavors. Its protected PDO seal guarantees it's made with pure, traditional methods, making it incredibly versatile for both snacking on a cheese board and elevating any dish in the kitchen.

Key Selling Points

  • The Real Deal (PDO Guaranteed): This isn't generic parmesan. It's authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, a name protected by European law (PDO - Protected Designation of Origin). This guarantees it was made in a specific region of Italy using only three ingredients—raw local milk, salt, and rennet—with absolutely no additives and a rigorous inspection of every wheel.3
  • Aged to Perfection: This wheel is aged for 24 months, the classic age where the cheese hits its peak. This develops its complex flavor—notes of roasted nuts and caramel—and its signature granular texture, full of those delightful crunchy "flavor crystals" (tyrosine) that customers love.3
  • The Ultimate Kitchen & Table Cheese: It's a true powerhouse. It has the robust flavor to be grated over pasta or shaved onto a salad, but it's also complex and delicious enough to be broken into chunks and savored on its own with a glass of wine.6
  • A Traceable Story: The markings on the rind are a passport back to its origin. They tell you the exact dairy that made the cheese and the date it was born, connecting you and the customer directly to the artisan producers in Italy.3

"If you like X, you'll love this"

  • Grana Padano: If they enjoy Grana Padano, they will appreciate the deeper complexity and more robust, nutty flavor profile of true Parmigiano Reggiano.
  • Aged Goudas or Piave Vecchio: Customers who seek out nutty, crystalline, and caramel-noted hard cheeses will find their ultimate benchmark in this iconic Italian classic.6

Tasting & Sensory Profile

  • Appearance: A beautiful straw-yellow paste that deepens in color with age. The texture is visibly granular, dotted with small white tyrosine crystals—the sign of a well-aged, flavorful cheese.3
  • Aroma: Rich and complex. Invite customers to smell it and they'll find notes of roasted cashews, toasted nuts, a hint of sweet caramel, and subtle fruity undertones reminiscent of stone fruit or even strawberry.3
  • Flavor Profile: A masterful balance of savory and sweet. It opens with a wave of nutty, brothy umami, which is then perfectly complemented by a gentle caramel sweetness and a bright, fruity finish. The flavor is robust and savory, but never sharp or bitter.3
  • Texture & Mouthfeel: Firm, dense, and satisfyingly crumbly. As it melts in the mouth, the paste is punctuated by a delightful crystalline crunch from the tyrosine crystals, creating a texture that is both granular and luscious.3

The Story & Interesting Facts

This cheese has stories to tell—use them to connect with your customers!

Parmigiano Reggiano’s history stretches back over 900 years to the Middle Ages, where Benedictine and Cistercian monks in the Po River Valley sought to create a cheese that would last.1 Using local salt and the rich milk from their herds, they perfected a recipe that has remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

Its value became legendary. Wheels were so prized they were used as currency, included in wedding dowries, and are still, to this day, targets of sophisticated bank heists in Italy.3

The PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) is its modern-day suit of armor. This legal framework ensures that the cheese can only be made in its historic birthplace—the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Bologna and Mantua—using strict, all-natural methods. This includes using raw milk from cows fed on local forage (no silage allowed), traditional copper vats for cooking the curd, and a minimum of 12 months of aging before each wheel is individually inspected and fire-branded by the official Consortium.3 This process is a guarantee of authenticity and a promise that no shortcuts were taken.

For the true connoisseur, be sure to mention Murray's 5-Year Parmigiano Reggiano. This special, seasonal cheese is an exploration of time's effect on flavor. The extra aging makes it denser and flakier, while the taste transforms from nutty-sweet to a profoundly deep, savory, and brothy umami bomb. It’s a cheese for meditating on.13

Pairings & Culinary Uses

Perfect Food Pairings

  • Sweet: A drizzle of true Aceto Balsamico di Modena (aged balsamic vinegar), truffle honey, fresh figs, ripe pears, or dates.3
  • Savory: Prosciutto di Parma (the ultimate regional pairing), walnuts, Marcona almonds, a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil, and briny Italian olives.13
  • Carrier (crackers, bread, etc.): Rustic Italian bread or simple, neutral crackers that allow the cheese's complex flavor to shine.

Beverage Pairings

  • Wine: Stick with the classic Italian theme. A sparkling Lambrusco is the quintessential regional pairing. It also sings with medium-bodied reds like Chianti and Barbera, or crisp, dry whites like Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. A celebratory glass of Prosecco is also a fantastic match.7
  • Beer: The cheese’s nutty character stands up well to a flavorful IPA or a crisp pilsner.16
  • Other: An Aperol Spritz or a Negroni for a perfect Italian aperitivo hour.

In the Kitchen

Encourage customers to think beyond just grating it on pasta (though it is the best for that!).

  • Shave it over a fresh arugula salad with pears and walnuts.
  • Add it to risotto at the end of cooking for unmatched creaminess and flavor.
  • The Rind is Gold! This is the ultimate pro tip. Tell customers to NEVER throw away the rind. Instead, they should toss it into their next pot of soup, stock, or tomato sauce to infuse the liquid with an incredible depth of savory, umami flavor.

Cheesemonger Quick Guide

  • Evocative Words: Nutty, savory, crystalline, crumbly, robust, fruity, caramel, toasty, umami, complex, fragrant.
  • Sample Phrases to Use with Customers:
    • "This is the real Parmigiano Reggiano, which is name-protected by Italian law to guarantee its quality. You'll taste the difference immediately compared to a generic parmesan."
    • "Feel these little crunchy bits in the cheese? Those are flavor crystals that only develop with proper aging—this one is aged for a perfect 24 months to bring out all that nutty, caramel flavor."
    • "One of the best things about this cheese is its versatility. It's a workhorse in the kitchen for grating and cooking, but it's also elegant enough to be the star of your cheese board."

Works cited

  1. The history - Parmigiano Reggiano, accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.parmigianoreggiano.com/product-history
  2. The history of Parmesan Cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano), our history, accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.consorziovaccherosse.it/en/2016/03/the-history-of-parmesan-cheese-parmigiano-reggiano-our-history/
  3. Murray's Parmigiano Reggiano – a nutty, savory parmesan cheese ..., accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.murrayscheese.com/dp/murray-s-parmigiano-reggiano
  4. Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (PDO) | Casa Local Aromas, accessed September 6, 2025, https://courses.localaromas.com/courses/2134360/lectures/48077984
  5. Exploring the Different Shades of Taste and Aroma of Mature Parmigiano Reggiano: A Fascinating Gastronomic Journey - Caseificio Traversetolese, accessed September 6, 2025, https://caseificiotraversetolese.it/en/exploring-the-different-nuances-of-taste-and-aroma-of-mature-parmesan-cheese-a-fascinating-gastronomic-journey/
  6. Grating & Parmigiano Reggiano | Murray's Cheese, accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.murrayscheese.com/lp/cheese/grating-and-parmigiano-reggiano
  7. A Guide to the King of Cheeses, Parmigiano-Reggiano | Wine Enthusiast, accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/a-guide-to-the-king-of-cheeses-parmigiano-reggiano/
  8. Sensory analysis - Parmigiano Reggiano, accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.parmigianoreggiano.com/product-guide-sensory-analysis
  9. Murray's Grated Parmigiano Reggiano – a nutty, savory, grated parmesan cheese, accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.murrayscheese.com/dp/murray-s-parmigiano-reggiano-grated
  10. A sensory analysis of Parmigiano Reggiano. - Bio Sant'Anna, accessed September 6, 2025, https://biosantanna.com/en/lanalisi-sensoriale-del-parmigiano-reggiano/
  11. Parmigiano Reggiano - Google Arts & Culture, accessed September 6, 2025, https://artsandculture.google.com/story/parmigiano-reggiano-ministero-delle-politiche-agricole-alimentari-e-forestali/fgXhAajCPBUA8A?hl=en
  12. PARMIGIANO REGGIANO VERTICAL TASTING EXPERIENCE – GranCaffeLAquila, accessed September 6, 2025, https://grancaffelaquila.com/products/copy-of-pecorino-romano-tasting-experience
  13. Parmigiano Reggiano 5 Years – a bold, brothy parmesan cheese, accessed September 6, 2025, https://www.murrayscheese.com/dp/parmigiano-reggiano-5-years
  14. 4 Perfect Pairings with Parmigiano Reggiano DOP - Wine and Travel Italy, accessed September 6, 2025, https://wineandtravelitaly.com/4-perfect-pairings-with-parmigiano-reggiano-dop-2/
  15. Perfect Pairings with Parmesan Cheese: A Complete Guide - Caseificio Traversetolese, accessed September 6, 2025, https://caseificiotraversetolese.it/en/perfect-pairings-with-parmesan-cheese-complete-guide/
  16. Parmigiano-Reggiano Pairings and Recipes: 12, 24, 30, and 36 Months - Cantina Direct, accessed September 6, 2025, https://cantinadirect.com/blogs/cantina-news/parmigiano-reggiano-pairings-and-recipes-12-24-30-and-36-months