The acronym DOP – Protected Designation of Origin – is reserved for cheeses whose characteristics and specificities are strictly linked to the area they come from, the raw materials used, and the expertise of local businesses.
All stages of processing Protected Designation of Origin products – from the production of raw materials to processing, up to any aging – are carried out in the traditionally designated area that gives the final product its name.
Gorgonzola is a municipality in the province of Milan that gave its name to the king of blue cheeses. Grana Padano owes its name to the vast area of the Po Valley where this cheese was born and is now produced and aged. The same can be said for Provolone Valpadana.
It is worth remembering that the protection guaranteed by the Protected Designation of Origin concerns the name, not the product. This means that the latter is not covered by a kind of European patent that prevents others from producing copies or imitations. The way to define Italian cheeses, however, is reserved for producers from the historical area who comply with the registered specification.
