Moliterno is a sheep's milk cheese with full, rounded flavors and a firm texture. This Sardinian cheese, aged five to eight months, is very versatile – good to center a cheeseboard with mild and strong cheeses, great in sandwiches, and fine to shave over a casserole.

This mild sheep's milk cheese is handmade in the French Pyrenees Mountain range, a natural border that divides France and Spain. Each wheel weighs approximately 1.5 pounds and has an easily recognizable, classic brownish buffed rind. Aged for 3 months, this cheese is semi-soft and aromatic with fruit notes of apple and pear as well as flavors of butter, hazlenut and olive.  The taste will become nuttier, and the texture drier, as it ages.  A delightful cheese served with fresh walnuts and dates after a meal. Petit Basque is a perishable product, and may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.

Aged Pecorino Toscano sheep’s milk cheese is medium strong in flavor. A D.O.P designation guarantees that it is made according to the same exacting standards as the less-mature ''fresco'' version. The extra aging produces a firmer pecorino with greater complexity and richer flavor. (''Stagionato'' means aged.) This is a wonderful table cheese that pairs well with big Tuscan red wines, or wonderful as part of an antipasto spread, or shaved on salads. Sprinkle it with a little freshly-ground black pepper and drizzle with chestnut honey for an unusual dessert. A perishable product, Pecorino Toscano may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.

Parmigiano-Reggiano DOP is aged for 24 months for a nutty, slightly sharp flavor. This king of cheese is perfect for eating as a table cheese or grating over pasta,  shredding over salad, or in sauces. Serve chunks of this elegant cheese drizzled with an aged balsamic. Made in northern Italy in the area surrounding Parma and Reggio nell’Emilia, Parmigiano-Reggiano is always produced between April 15 and Nov. 11.  Look for evidence of the words ''Parmigiano-Reggiano'' spelled out in pin-dot holes in the rind of the cheese to be assured of authenticity. The DOP designation guarantees that the cheese has met exacting Italian standards for quality and place of origin. The cheese arrives in our store in large wheels and is hand-split with a wire. Then each piece is hand-cut and vacuum-packed to order before being shipped to you. Parmigiano-Reggiano may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.

Aged (stravecchio) cow's milk cheese captivates with a distinctively sharp flavor and smooth texture.  The Auricchio family, a venerable northern Italian producer, makes this cheese in Lombardy. This provolone arrives at our store in 200+ pound logs already aged. Then we hang it for four months more to assure perfect flavor and texture.  Auricchio Provolone is best used for eating on its own as part of an antipasto spread, or with fruit. Provolone is not usually grated or melted in dishes. A perishable product, Auricchio Provolone may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.

Sheep's milk cheese from Sardinia is slightly sharp, and aged for no less than 60 days. Pecorino Sardo, known as “Fiore di Sardegna (Flower of Sardinia),” is often used as an alternative to Pecorino Romano, although it is not as salty. Central Formaggi's Pecorino Sardo has a mild earthiness and a firm texture. Try it on your next cheese plate paired with a hearty Zinfandel. A perishable product, Pecorino Sardo may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.

A delicately nutty and mild cow's milk cheese, Fontina Val d'Aosta has been made in the Italian Alps since the 12th century. This outstanding semi-soft eating cheese with pleasingly complex flavors is also one of the finest melting cheeses in the world.  It is used in fondues, for grilled cheese, egg dishes and any other dish calling for melted cheese. A perishable product, Fontina Val d'Aosta may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.

The true "water buffalo milk" Mozzarella imported from Italy is very fresh and mild. It is made one day in southern Italy, and shipped by air the next day.  The balls of  Mozzarella di Bufala remain in a whey and brine liquid the entire time to keep it moist. This Mozzarella di Bufala is certified DOP for authenticity and regional identity. It is very perishable, and should be eaten within days. Enjoy this in a salad with ripe tomatoes and basil -- perhaps drizzled with our famous Rubio for a real treat. Or try this mozzarella in cooked or baked dishes like pizza and lasagna. Because of its perishability, Mozzarella di Bufala may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.

A creamy blue cheese with a hint of sweetness,  Gorgonzola Dolce is one of the finest cheeses from Northern Italy. This blue cheese has a buttery, almost runny, consistency and a delicate flavor. Gorgonzola Dolce may be enjoyed with fruit, drizzled with honey, in pasta,  salads, or crumbled over potatoes. A perishable product, Gorgonzola Dolce may require 2nd day shipping, depending on distance.