Casello D’oro Awards 2026: Parmigiano Reggiano Crowns Its Champions in Madrid

The PDO icon of “Made in Italy” lit up Madrid, honoring the 13 winning dairies of the 2025 Palii at the Real Casino. During the evening, two Special Mentions were awarded for the Parmigiano Reggiano with the best structure and the best aromatic profile, both of which went to Caseificio Sociale di Monzato of Traversetolo (province of Parma).

Madrid – The Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano held the third edition of the Casello d’Oro Awards at the Real Casino de Madrid, an event dedicated to the 13 dairies that won the 2025 Parmigiano Reggiano Palii.

Following editions in Paris and London, the PDO symbol of “Made in Italy” conquered the Spanish capital with an evening blending tradition, lifestyle, and haute gastronomy. During the event, an international jury granted two Special Mentions—for the Parmigiano Reggiano with the best structure and the one with the best aromatic profile—both awarded to Caseificio Sociale di Monzato (Traversetolo, Parma).

Attended by Italian and international press, the evening was hosted by Ilaria Mulinacci (presenter of the 50 Best Restaurant Awards). The event celebrated the territory, tradition, and savoir-faire behind an Italian icon loved worldwide, further strengthening the bond between the PDO and its most promising market in Europe. Spain currently imports over 1,800 tons per year, showing a growth of +2.5% compared to the previous year (surpassing the average foreign growth rate of +2.3%).

For 13 years, annual competitions known as “Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano” have been held in the area of origin. During these contests, the best 24-26 month samples are voted upon—the age at which the PDO reaches the ideal maturation to highlight its typical characteristics.

During yesterday’s Casello d’Oro Awards, the 13 winning dairies of the 2025 Parmigiano Reggiano Palii were officially recognized.

Furthermore, an exceptional international jury—including Maddalena Fossati Dondero, Manuel “Manu” Franco, Miyuki Murase, Cathy Strange, Eva Vila, and Carlos Yescas (global food authorities ranging from magazine directors and Michelin-starred chefs to world-renowned cheese experts)—awarded the two Special Mentions following a blind tasting.

The 13 winning dairies of the 2025 Parmigiano Reggiano Palii are:

• Latteria Sociale La Mezzanese (Sorbolo Mezzani, PR) – Winner of the Palio dell’Artigianato di Soragna (Soragna, PR)
• Colline di Canossa Cigarello (Carpineti, RE) – Winner of the Palio Bibbiano la Culla (Ghiardo di Bibbiano, RE)
• Rastelli Fratelli (Rubbiano, fraction of Solignano, PR) – Winner of the Palio di Pellegrino Parmense (Pellegrino Parmense, PR)
• 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia (Valsamoggia plant, BO) – Winner of the Palio Città di Casina (Casina, RE)
• Caseificio Bucamante (Serramazzoni, MO) – Winner of the Palio del Frignano (Pavullo nel Frignano, MO) and the Palio Città di Casina (Casina, RE) with 40-month maturation
• Caseificio Croce (Pegognaga, MN) – Winner of the Palio dei Caseifici dell’Oltrepò Mantovano (Gonzaga, MN)
• Caseificio Sociale di Monzato (Traversetolo, PR) – Winner of the Palio di Montechiarugolo (Montechiarugolo, PR)
• Caseificio Sociale Castellazzo (Campagnola Emilia, RE) – Winner of the Palio di San Lucio (Guastalla, RE)
• Caseificio Sociale Fior di Latte (Gaggio Montano, BO) – Winner of the Palio di San Petronio (Bologna)
• 4 Madonne Caseificio dell’Emilia (Lesignana plant, MO) – Winner of the Palio GustiaMo (Modena)
• Oratorio San Giorgio (Carpi, MO) – Winner of the Palio GustiaMo (Modena) with 40-month maturation
• Casearia Castelli Srl (Reggio Emilia) – Winner of the Palio Teatro della Natura (Viano, RE)

The evening featured the signature cocktail “Combinación Italiana,” created for the occasion by Giorgio Bargiani, Assistant Director of Mixology at The Connaught in London. A toast between Italy and Spain, the drink—based on sherry, vermouth, and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PDO—was designed to enhance the complex notes of 24 and 40-month Parmigiano Reggiano.

More than just an awards ceremony, this was a lifestyle event where Parmigiano Reggiano became the star of conviviality, mixology, and fine dining: not just an ingredient, but a contemporary icon capable of uniting thousand-year-old tradition with new taste trends.

The Madrid event also marks the launch of a multichannel media campaign in Spain to boost brand awareness and recognition, with an investment of approximately 1 million euros in the first half of the year. The heart of the activity is the 20-second commercial «Più grande, insieme» (Greater, Together). The visual narrative links the greatness of a product with a thousand-year history to modernity, inviting consumers to discover the versatility of the PDO and share it with loved ones. It will air until March 15 on Mediaset networks (T5, Cuatro, MediaMax) and Atresmedia (Antena 3, La Sexta, Multi, Neox), supported by digital and OOH campaigns.

The Italian Ambassador to Spain, Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, stated: “We are truly proud that the Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano chose Spain to host the Casello d’Oro award. This extraordinary cultural heritage, a symbol of excellence, meets great sensitivity in Spain, fueled by a deep affinity between our culinary cultures. We share the defense of a food model based on raw material quality, strict production regulations, and transparency for the consumer. This commonality of values is also visible in the joint actions carried out by Italy and Spain in Brussels. I am convinced that the Parmigiano Reggiano brand has the opportunity to further strengthen itself here.”

“We are happy to have brought the third edition of the Casello d’Oro Awards to Madrid,” declared Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Consorzio, “and to have honored the 13 winning dairies of the Palii: Parmigiano Reggiano is increasingly speaking an international language. In 2025, for the first time, exports exceeded the Italian market, and Spain is one of the fastest-growing countries, with over 1,800 tons imported and rising numbers. After Paris and London, the Real Casino was the perfect stage to showcase not just a product, but a true culture of taste that continues to conquer the world. Spain is a strategic market for the future of Parmigiano Reggiano. In particular, we thank the Italian Ambassador to Spain, H.E. Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, for hosting a dinner at the Embassy on Tuesday, February 10, which featured our PDO as the protagonist and served as an important occasion to strengthen relations with the country’s institutions and stakeholders.”