Secrets of Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar
Description
I’ll bring you along a complete tour to discover all the steps of Parmigiano Reggiano’s production. We’ll see where the animals are bred and where the milk is mould. We’ll go into the cheese factory during milk processing and we'll witness in cooking and making cheese wheels. We’ll see then the process of salting and maturing up to enter the huge “caveau”, where thousands of cheeses wheels are guarded and laid out in long rows in the silent maturation rooms and where the scent of cheese will smell so nice and exciting that we won’t be able to resist till the final tasting of cheese. on this special tour you will be able to touch the newborn calves on our farm which happens almost every day. you will taste the original king of cheeses and many other local artisanal products such as real balsamic vinegar aged over 30 years and parma ham and lambrusco wine and at the end you can buy a piece of real Parmiginao Reggiano or balsamic vinegar to take home with you
Tour Options
Itinerary
We’ll go into the cheese factory during milk processing and we'll witness in cooking and making of cheese wheels. We’ll see then the process of salting and maturing up to enter the huge “caveau”, where thousands of cheese wheels are guarded and laid out in long rows in the silent maturation rooms and where the scent of cheese will smell so nice and exciting that we won’t be able to resist till the final tasting of cheese and local typical products. I will give you a lab coat and a cap for access to the production area. I’ll bring you along a complete tour to discover all the steps of Parmigiano Reggiano’s production.
Farm with cows milked and newborn calves. We’ll see the places, where the animals are bred and where the milk is mold. If we are lucky we will see a newborn calf it often happens in the morning.
An ancient farm transformed into a farmhouse where we will have a coffee break in the morning as soon as we arrive and at the end of the tour we will do the tasting of cheeses aged 12, 24, and 36 months with typical Emilian salami and a glass of Lambrusco DOC wine and 3 aged balsamic vinegar of 8 and 15 and 30 years.
tour of the ancient vinegar factory and tasting of balsamic vinegar
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Only people over the age of 12 can participate
- sconsigliato ai viaggiatori con difficoltà motorie
Reviews(72)
This was a family owned and run operation. Claiuduo was a fantastic guide. No rushing. Individual attention and a fascinating setting and commentary. One of the best and genuine experienced we have had in Italy this year. 100% recommend. Relax and enjoy
We had an awesome day with Claudio explaining to us how Parmigiano Reggiano is made - then showing us every step of the process until you arrive at the finished product. We then got to taste it at different stages of maturity along with some salami and wine. That was so good. Then we saw how Balsamic Vinegar is made and the process explained and then got to taste that at different levels of aging. It just amazed us as to how much time and effort goes into the process of both the cheese and the vinegar to give you the best end result. Could not have had a better tour guide. Claudio's knowledge and understanding of both of these products was second to none. Plus his sense of humour was loved by all. If you are in Bologna or anywhere accessible to Bologna you must do this tour. You will not be disappointed.
Claudio was a great guide to everything Parmesan Reggiano and Balsamico, giving us access to the dairy where milk was turned to wheels of cheese in 12 - 36 months, and taking us to the small production balsamico producer in the hills was fantastic as well.
Delicious Tour We had been looking forward to this tour since since we booked it back in October. It met all our expectations. Claudio is very friendly and knowledgeable. The visit to both the cheese factory and vinegar factory were full of great viewers of the Pianura Padana. The food tasting was exceptional also. I want to thank Claudio for his kindness and knowledge. We feel smarter now. Long live to the Reggiano Reggiano!
Our family of four (two parents, two tweens) had a wonderful time experiencing the Emilia Reggio area with Claudio. He walked us through the various steps of cheese making, the certification process, before showing us his family farm and ending with a balsamic vinegar tasting. The information was delivered in a clear and interesting way. Communication regarding trains and pick up was excellent. I recommend you take this tour.
unbeatable tour in the region. comprehensive Parmesan experience and amazing balsamic vinegar explanation
This was the most authentic experience from my last minute trip this automn. Claudio is the best host, he provided so much insightful details on parmegiano reggiano and balsamic vinegar, the real ones, whivh he knows very well from his family businesses. Now I appreciate the original products even more. Don’t miss this tour if you visit Bologna or surroundings!
I had the most incredible tour yesterday with Claudio — truly the highlight of my trip. The day started with a delicious sweet and savory breakfast and a perfect cappuccino, and from that moment on, everything felt seamless and thoughtfully planned. At the Parmigiano Reggiano factory, Claudio walked us through each step with such depth and clarity that we left feeling like we actually understood the entire process. The same was true at the cow farm — his knowledge, passion, and warmth made it so meaningful. From storytelling to sharing moments together, every part of the day felt personal and special. We enjoyed amazing tastings of wine, cheeses, and meats, followed by a balsamic experience that completely changed how I think about balsamic forever. Claudio is incredibly knowledgeable, kind, inclusive, and FUN — the kind of guide who makes you feel like you’re exploring with a friend who genuinely loves what he does. If you want an authentic, immersive, and joyful food tour, this is the one. I couldn’t recommend it more! 🍷🧀✨
It was a fun, informative tour that gave an in depth dialog about how the cheese is made …every step of the process all the way to the DOP designation. Claudio is a wonderful ambassador for Reggio Emilia and his family!
A wonderful day with Claudio. This is the real deal for gastronauts to understand the process of Parmigiano Reggiano production and balsamic vinegar. The culinary DNA of Emilia Romagna. See the hay, meet the cows, visit the cheese factory whilst operating and of course taste some cheese, Lambrusco and local charcuterie. Then head to the hills to see Claudio’s family batteria of balsamic vinegar and sample over gelato. Communication was great, timings were easy to plan around as we were passing through by train and a good time was had by all. Grazie mille!
