La Porta dei Parchi
La Porta dei Parchi is located in the protected mountain area of Anversa degli Abruzzi in the Abruzzo region. It was founded in the 1980s by Nunzio and Manuela. They originally started with a flock of sheep and cows, but soon found that the rugged hilly terrain was more suited to sheep and goats and focused solely on sheep and cheese production. They leave their herds on the open pastures for much of the year and maintain the tradition of transumanza (driving out to summer pastures).
The area in which their farm is located is renowned for its pure nature and the abundance of aromatic herbs, including saffron, which influence the taste of the milk and cheese. An incredible 120 species of herbs grow on 1 m2 of their pastures, making this one of the most biodiverse areas in Europe!
They work exclusively with freshly milked, unpasteurised milk to preserve all the flavours, aromas and healthy micro-organisms in the cheese. Their cheeses are therefore very distinctive to rustic in flavour, with a wide range of unusual aromas that industrially produced cheeses can only dream of.
Nunzio and Manuela make their cheeses using traditional local cheese-making techniques, but they are not afraid to use techniques from other cultures. For example, after one of Nunzio's trips to Afghanistan, their unique pecorino muffato with noble mould was born, combining the cheese-making art of Abruzzo and Afghanistan.
Website: La Porta dei Parchi