A century and a halfof experience
It was 1865 when Pietro Defendi, a milkman, began to passionately prepare the first formaggelle using milk from his own farm. From father to son over 150 years have passed and the Defendi Cheese Factory today is a modern and technological business. Since the first homemade productions, it has diligently and enthusiastically dedicated itself to the pursuit of excellence in the production of the typical cheeses of Lombardy, made with the pride of those who remember the ancient traditions, just as its founder would have wanted.
Land of flavours
Defendi Cheese Factory is situated in Caravaggio, in the province of Bergamo, land of PDO cheeses like Gorgonzola Dop and Taleggio Dop, two stars of Italian gastronomy and jewels in the crown of Made in Italy flavours worldwide. Presently, the new production facility can transform up to 150 000 litres of milk per day into PDO and high quality cheeses. Defendi cheeses are distributed and loved all over the world.
Land of flavours
Defendi Cheese Factory is situated in Caravaggio, in the province of Bergamo, land of PDO cheeses like Gorgonzola Dop and Taleggio Dop, two stars of Italian gastronomy and jewels in the crown of Made in Italy flavours worldwide. Presently, the new production facility can transform up to 150 000 litres of milk per day into PDO and high quality cheeses. Defendi cheeses are distributed and loved all over the world.
Quality from love
“We make them with love” and this is the real secret that makes the Defendi cheeses so great. Quality is the natural consequence of the passion and dedication which inspire and guide every choice… for the pure pleasure of creating rich flavours capable of emotionally stirring those who taste them. The procedure begins with the collection of the best italian milk, from selected livestock, and continues through each stage of processing. Today the most evolved technologies are still alternated with stages deliberately performed manually by expert Dairymen and particular care is given to the phases of ripening and aging of the cheeses.
The Defendi Cheese Factory, being a PDO cheese producer, is associated with the following consortia:
Consortium for the Protection of the Gorgonzola Cheese
Consortium for the Protection of the Taleggio Cheese
Consortium for the Protection of the Lombardy Quartirolo
Quality from love
“We make them with love” and this is the real secret that makes the Defendi cheeses so great. Quality is the natural consequence of the passion and dedication which inspire and guide every choice… for the pure pleasure of creating rich flavours capable of emotionally stirring those who taste them. The procedure begins with the collection of the best italian milk, from selected livestock, and continues through each stage of processing. Today the most evolved technologies are still alternated with stages deliberately performed manually by expert Dairymen and particular care is given to the phases of ripening and aging of the cheeses.
The Defendi Cheese Factory, being a PDO cheese producer, is associated with the following consortia:
Consortium for the Protection of the Gorgonzola Cheese
Consortium for the Protection of the Taleggio Cheese
Consortium for the Protection of the Lombardy Quartirolo
Defendi Cheese Factory also holds certificates which demonstrate its high qualitative standards:
Prize-winning goodness
Over 150 years of experience and tradition, together with the passion of every day, make Defendi Cheese Factory proud to produce cheeses that are so good they deserve a prize.
• Concorso Caseario Nazionale Infiniti Blu promosso da Slow Food GORGONZOLA-MARTESANA e Onaf Delegazione Milano
Diploma di Qualità Superiore 2016; 2014
• Concorso Caseario Nazionale Infiniti Blu promosso da Slow Food GORGONZOLA-MARTESANA e Onaf Delegazione Milano
Targa d’Eccellenza 2015
• Italian Cheese Awards – Premio ai migliori formaggi italiani 2016 promosso da Guru del Gusto
Nomination come miglior erborinato italiano 2016
• World Cheese Awards 2001 in association with United Kingdom Cheese Guild
Silver award 2001
• Concorso Caseario Nazionale Infiniti Blu promosso da Slow Food GORGONZOLA-MARTESANA e Onaf Delegazione Milano
Diploma di Qualità Superiore 2016; 2015; 2014
• International Cheese Awards Nantwich (UK)
Gold Awards come miglior erborinato per il quarto anno consecutivo e trofeo come Best Italian Cheese Soft” definito “Outstanding Gorgonzola, you just want to eat more” 2016; 2015; 2014; 2013
• Great Yorkshire Show 2015
Best Blue Cheese Award 2015
• Alma Caseus 2016, Concorso Nazionale della più importante Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana
Primo classificato nella categoria erborinati 2016
• International Cheese Awards Nantwich 2016
3 medaglie d’oro 2016 – Gold Award nella categoria Best Buffalo Cheese e categoria Soft & Cream Cheese
• Concorso Caseario Nazionale Infiniti Blu 2016 promosso da Slow Food Gorgonzola-Martesana e Onaf Delegazione Milano
Targa di eccellenza 2016 definito ”formaggio eccellente, ottima presentazione. Notevole equilibrio aromatico. Erborinatura ben distribuita, solubile e caratterizzato da piacevole piccantezza”
• International Cheese Awards Nantwich 2016
Highly Commended Award nella categoria “Soft & Cream Cheese” 2016