Consorzio Latterie Virgilio is a cooperative of italian dairies producing certified parmesan cheese, certified grana cheese, italian butter, uht milk and cream and other dairy products. Every product bearing the Virgilio brand name is made only using quality Italian milk, i.e. milk from the area where the characteristic and excellent italian cheeses with PDO marking, are made.
Butter production has been the main activity of consortium and now Virgilio could offer the first Italian butter with the recommendation of the European Community. The dairy companies members of consortium are located in north Italy, in the area of Parmigiano Reggiano production. Virgilio works milk and creams from the production area of the best Italian DOP cheeses. Each cheese factory conserve the italian old dairy tradition.
The dairy production activity currently includes:
- the production of butter, by means of working rising cream from fresh milk coming from the production of Grana Padano PDO and Parmigiano Reggiano PDO at associated dairies;
- the production of UHT milk, UHT cooking and whipping cream, mascarpone, butter;
- the ageing, packaging and marketing of Grana Padano PDO and Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheeses and Provolone cheese;
- ageing and maintenance service on wheels of cheese that remain in the property of the partners.
Third party working (products packaged under the brand name of large distribution companies, both in Italy and abroad).
At present Virgilio is the only Consortium of cheese factories in Italy that, together with its more than 70 associated dairies, has been able to achieve both the Grana Padano PDO award and the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO award.
Virgilio dairy products are created exclusively using Italian milk: 100% Italian milk! Their quality makes them ideal for all the recipes of italian cooking.
The dairy products on sale are:
UHT whipping cream: as for cooking cream, also whipping cream must the cream must have the unique
taste and delicate aroma of milk.
UHT cooking cream: as its real name is milk cream, the cream must echo the white color of milk as well as the unique taste and delicate aroma of milk.
Butter: the taste of italian butter is slight and delicate, it must have echoes of cream. Butter must not be too tasty and strong: butter is a condiment or an ingredient, it helps to improve the final dish
it must not overwhelm the other ingredients with its taste.
UHT milk: the taste of milk is faint but rounded. Italian milk must not have a sweetish/caramel
aftertaste (this could mean tht the product was heated too much, almost "cooked"). Three types of
milk: uht whole milk, uht semi-skimmed milk, uht skimmed milk.
Mascarpone cheese: the taste of mascarpone is buttery, creamy it coats the mouth. The most common use of mascarpone cheese is in confectionery, for creams, mousses and ice-creams.
Parmigiano reggiano PDO: parmesan cheese must not be salty, nor piquant, acid or bitter. The ideal taste of Parmigiano Reggiano must be sweet, vaguely buttery and have the correct balance between being aromatic and tasty.
Grana Padano PDO: grana cheese must not be salty, nor piquant, acid or bitter. The ideal taste of Grana Padano must be sweet, vaguely buttery and have the correct balance between being aromatic and tasty.
Provolone: the provolone cheese is compact, with possible slight and rare holes, above all in the spicy variety. Sweet provolone has a delicate flavour, and the scents and aromas of milk and butter.
Spicy provolone takes on very marked scents and aromas; a spicy flavoured cheese.
Smoked provolone has a markedly very intense and particular flavour.
Cream processing, production of butter, mascarpone, UHT milk and cream, seasoning, portioning and packaging of Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P. cheese; seasoning, portioning, grating and packaging of grana Padano D.O.P. cheese has implemented and maintains a Quality Management System.
In the Virgilio website you can find curiosities and information about Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Grana Padano cheese, milk and provolone cheese, a small guide to quality cheese and answers to frequent questions. In the recipes section many italian recipes and dishes to use the dairy products with creativeness. |
