Pecorino Cheese in Florence | VINO AL VINO Selection

Wine may dominate the conversation about Tuscan gastronomy, but anyone interested in the region’s traditional food should make room for another local speciality: Pecorino Toscano and, in particular, the sheep’s milk cheeses associated with Pienza and the Val d’Orcia.

Visitors searching for Pecorino di Pienza in Florence don’t necessarily need to travel south into the Tuscan countryside to discover it.

One address worth knowing is VINO AL VINO, a specialist wine and food shop in central Florence whose selection extends beyond wine to artisan Italian food.

Among its specialities is a varied selection of Pecorino di Pienza and Tuscan sheep’s milk cheeses, ranging from young and delicate styles to long-aged and unusually refined versions.

Why Is Pienza Famous for Pecorino?

Pienza sits in the spectacular Val d’Orcia in southern Tuscany, an area deeply associated with pastoral agriculture and sheep farming.

The town has become one of Tuscany’s most famous destinations for Pecorino, and its name is closely associated with traditional sheep’s milk cheeses.

For food-focused travellers, this makes Pecorino di Pienza one of the products worth seeking out during a trip through Tuscany.

But Pecorino is far more diverse than it may initially appear.

Ageing, milk, production techniques and subsequent refinement can produce cheeses ranging from soft and milky to firm, savoury and remarkably intense.

A Wide Selection at VINO AL VINO

VINO AL VINO’s approach is interesting because the shop does not restrict its offering to a single generic Pecorino.

Instead, visitors can find a selection spanning different stages of maturation and several distinctive styles.

The range can include fresh Pecorino, Primosale, semi-aged and mature Pecorino, alongside more unusual cheeses such as Pecorino with truffle, walnut-leaf-aged Pecorino, cheese refined with grape marc and Pecorino di Fossa.

For anyone interested in Italian cheese, comparing these different styles reveals just how versatile sheep’s milk can be.

Fresh Pecorino and Primosale

Young sheep’s milk cheeses are often overlooked by international visitors who associate Pecorino exclusively with hard, salty grating cheese.

Fresh Pecorino offers a completely different experience.

Its texture is softer and its flavour more delicate, highlighting the sweet and milky character of sheep’s milk.

Primosale represents another youthful style and is an excellent option for travellers who prefer delicate cheese rather than intense maturation.

Semi-Aged and Mature Pecorino

With additional ageing, Pecorino develops a firmer texture and greater aromatic complexity.

A semi-aged Tuscan Pecorino occupies an attractive middle ground between the softness of young cheese and the intensity of mature versions.

Fully aged Pecorino is firmer and more concentrated, with pronounced savoury flavours that make it particularly well suited to wine.

This diversity is one reason why buying Pecorino from a specialist shop can be more rewarding than simply purchasing a pre-packed cheese without knowing its age or origin.

Pecorino with Truffle, Walnut Leaves and Grape Marc

Some of the most interesting cheeses at VINO AL VINO go beyond conventional maturation.

Truffle Pecorino combines the characteristic flavour of sheep’s milk cheese with one of Italy’s most celebrated ingredients.

Pecorino aged or refined with walnut leaves develops another distinctive aromatic profile, while cheeses associated with grape marc create a particularly appropriate connection between cheesemaking and winemaking.

The shop also offers Pecorino di Fossa, a distinctive Italian cheese associated with traditional pit-ageing.

Together, these cheeses provide a much broader introduction to Italian Pecorino than a single standard variety could offer.

Taste Pecorino with Tuscan Wine

One advantage of buying cheese from a specialist wine shop is access to pairing advice.

At VINO AL VINO, visitors can also taste selected Pecorino cheeses with wine, making it possible to discover the products before deciding what to purchase.

Young Pecorino, mature cheese, truffle and other refined styles can interact very differently with wine.

For curious travellers, tasting can therefore become part of the shopping experience rather than a separate attraction.

Buying Pecorino to Take Home

VINO AL VINO can portion and vacuum-pack its Pecorino, an important consideration for travellers.

Rather than purchasing an entire wheel or being restricted to predetermined packages, customers can select cheeses according to their preferences and have them prepared for transport.

Import restrictions on dairy products vary between countries, so international travellers should check the current regulations for their destination.

A Florence Address for Pecorino Lovers

For travellers interested specifically in Pecorino di Pienza in Florence, VINO AL VINO is an address worth adding to a gastronomic itinerary.

Its strength is variety: fresh, semi-aged and mature Pecorino sit alongside Primosale, truffle cheese, walnut-leaf refinement, grape marc and Pecorino di Fossa.

The possibility of tasting selected cheeses with wine and purchasing them portioned and vacuum-packed makes the shop particularly practical for international visitors.

For anyone who thought Tuscan Pecorino was a single type of cheese, this is a useful place to discover just how diverse it can be.

VINO AL VINO
Borgo Ognissanti 70R, Florence