Parmigiano-Reggiano and Parma Ham Tour
A half-day journey into the heart of Parma's most celebrated culinary traditions
This Parmigiano-Reggiano and Parma Ham tour takes you inside the working facilities where two of Italy's most protected food products are crafted by hand, following centuries-old methods. You will witness the full production cycle of both products and taste them at their source, paired with local wine.
The experience begins at a traditional cheese dairy, known locally as a Casello, where skilled cheesemakers transform fresh milk into the iconic golden wheels of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Your guide explains the science and tradition behind each stage, from cooking the milk to curing the cheese in brine rooms lined with aging rounds.
The tour then moves to a Parma Ham production facility, where fresh pork legs undergo a precise sequence of salting, resting, washing, drying, curing, greasing, and branding. Each step is carried out according to strict specifications that define the Parma Ham denomination, and the factory visit makes these standards tangible and memorable.
Both visits conclude with a tasting session, giving you the chance to sample each product at its freshest alongside a glass of regional wine. The small-group format ensures direct access to producers and ample time for questions at each stop.
Tour Highlights
Visit a working Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy and observe cheesemakers at every stage of production.
Explore the brine room where cheese wheels are submerged and begin their long aging process.
Follow the complete Parma Ham production line from fresh pork leg to branded, cured ham.
Taste Parmigiano-Reggiano and Parma Ham paired with local wine at each respective factory.
Receive expert commentary from producers who explain the protected denomination standards of each product.
Learn what distinguishes authentic PDO-certified products from ordinary equivalents on the market.
Tour Itinerary
The group meets at the designated meeting point in Parma before travelling together to the first production site. Transfer time is used to introduce the day's programme and the history of both products.
At the Casello, you observe how fresh milk is heated and curdled to begin the cheese-making process. Artisan cheesemakers demonstrate each manual step, from cutting the curd to shaping the wheels in their characteristic moulds.
Your guide leads the group through the brine room, where wheels are salted and then transferred to aging galleries. The scale and aroma of these spaces give a vivid impression of the patience required to produce aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Before leaving the dairy, you sample the cheese at different stages of aging alongside a glass of wine. Producers point out the textural and flavour differences that develop over time.
At the curing facility, you follow each phase of Parma Ham production, including salting, washing, drying, and the application of the distinctive crown brand. Staff explain the regulatory requirements that govern every stage.
The tour concludes with a tasting of freshly sliced Parma Ham paired with wine before the group returns to the original meeting point in Parma.
What Is Included
Included
- Guided visit to a Parmigiano-Reggiano dairy
- Guided visit to a Parma Ham production facility
- Tasting of Parmigiano-Reggiano with wine
- Tasting of Parma Ham with wine
- Transportation between production sites
- Expert commentary from local producers
Not Included
- Hotel pick-up or drop-off
- Personal travel insurance
- Additional food or beverages beyond tastings
- Gratuities for guides or producers
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Tour
Spots on this small-group tour are limited. Secure your visit to Parma's most iconic food producers and enjoy an authentic tasting experience at the source.
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