Grana Padano cheese has been a part of Italy's proud gastronomic heritage for nearly 1000 years. A staple in Italian cuisine, it has become the world's best-selling PDO cheese. It owes its name to its fine grainy structure, “grana” means “grain” in Italian, and to the production area, the Pianura Padana in Northern Italy. This cheese has a mellow, tasty, yet never overpowering, flavour, and can be found aged between 9 months to over 24 months. Naturally lactose free due to the characteristics of its production and long ageing process, it possesses unique nutritional features such as quality proteins, vitamins and mineral salts, especially calcium. The Consorzio Tutela Grana Padano (Grana Padano Protection Consortium) ensures that every wheel is produced according to strict standards so that it can be awarded its PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status and is responsible with promoting and protects Grana Padano in the world.