Parma: Parmigiano Reggiano Factory Tour & Wine Tasting

Watch Parmigiano Get Made, Then Taste It Fresh

You watch cheese makers separate whey and shape wheels in a working caseificio, tour the aging rooms where thousands of wheels rest, learn how the Consorzio tests each batch, then taste two aged Parmigiano varieties with balsamic and regional wine. Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Parma are included, making it a self-contained morning or afternoon without arranging your own transport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory tour

• Travel through Parma countryside
• See stables and forage fields
• Visit traditional cheese factory
• Watch cheese makers separate whey
• Observe shaping and salting rooms
• Enter stagionatura to see aging cheese
• Learn about Consorzio cheese tests
• Taste Parmigiano Reggiano with wine

The experience

So you're standing in front of these massive steel vats and the cheese maker just pulls out this curds-and-whey mixture like it's nothing: been doing it the same way for decades, probably his father before him. Two hours sounds short until you realize you're watching the whole thing: the separation, the shaping into those iconic wheels, the salting rooms where everything smells like salt and time. The stagionatura is where your head kind of stops working because there are thousands of wheels just sitting there aging, and you start to understand why Parmigiano costs what it does.

The Consorzio tests every single batch. They literally hammer the cheese to listen for the right sound, then fire-brand it if it passes. That's not marketing, that's just how it works in Parma. Your guide walks you through each stage, and you see the countryside on the drive there too, the fields and stables where the cows eat the specific forage that makes the milk taste like it does. It's the kind of detail that doesn't sound important until you taste the cheese and realize everything connects.

At the end you get two different aged varieties paired with balsamic vinegar and a local sparkling wine, not a rushed thing, actual tasting where you can feel the difference between the younger and older wheels. The whole experience is about two hours, and pickup happens at the NH Hotel next to Parma's train station, so if you're coming by rail or staying central, it's straightforward. Air-conditioned van, no luggage allowed (they'll tell you about storage if you need it), and it runs even in bad weather as long as it's safe to drive.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off at central Parma (NH Hotel by the train station), a guided two-hour tour of a working caseificio where you watch cheese makers separate whey and shape wheels, access to the shaping, salting, and aging rooms, a tasting of two aged Parmigiano Reggiano varieties paired with balsamic vinegar and local sparkling wine, and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Infant (under 7)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by CURIOSEETY

Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying in or arriving at Parma who want to understand how Parmigiano actually gets made without arranging their own transport. The two-hour factory visit is paced for watching the process unfold, not rushing through it, and the tasting at the end is paired properly rather than a quick sample.

Traveler reviews

4.82★★★★★★★★★★

132 verified traveler reviews

5 ★119

4 ★8

3 ★2

2 ★0

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 7).

How long is the tour?

Two hours at the cheese factory, plus travel time to and from central Parma (roughly 30 minutes each way depending on traffic).

What exactly do I taste at the end?

Two different aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheeses paired with balsamic vinegar and local sparkling wine.

Is pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at the NH Hotel next to Parma train station are included.

Can I bring luggage?

No large bags or luggage are allowed on the van. Contact the operator for luggage storage options if you need them.

Does it run in bad weather?

Tours operate in bad weather as long as conditions are safe to drive.

What will I see on the drive there?

The typical Emilia-Romagna countryside, including the stables and fields where cows graze on the specific forage used to produce milk for Parmigiano Reggiano.

Is this suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though you should confirm any specific accessibility needs with the operator.