Paglierino Italian Sheep's Milk Cheese by Casa Madaio (per oz.)

Paglierino — Sheep’s Milk Cheese | Casa Madaio, Campania, Italy

Casa Madaio is one of southern Italy’s most revered artisan cheesemakers, based in Aquara in the Cilento region of Campania — a UNESCO World Heritage landscape celebrated for its biodiversity, ancient olive groves, and pastoral traditions. For generations, the Madaio family has worked with local shepherds and small producers to craft cheeses of exceptional character, rooted in the terroir of the Cilento hills. Their Paglierino — named for its characteristic straw-yellow color (“paglierino” means “pale straw” in Italian) — is a semi-aged sheep’s milk cheese that beautifully bridges the gap between the freshness of young pecorino and the depth of a fully aged wheel.

The rind is natural and slightly firm, giving way to a smooth, supple paste with a warm golden hue. The aroma is inviting: lanolin, toasted hay, and a gentle earthiness that speaks to the pastoral character of Cilento sheep’s milk. On the palate, Paglierino is rich and buttery, with a mild lactic tang, notes of toasted nuts, wildflower honey, and a clean, lightly savory finish. It melts beautifully and eats just as well on its own as it does on a composed cheese board.

“A semi-aged sheep’s milk cheese from the Cilento hills of Campania — pale straw in color, rich and buttery in character, with the depth and terroir of southern Italy’s finest pastoral tradition.” — Casa Madaio

• Producer: Casa Madaio, Aquara, Cilento, Campania, Italy
• Milk: 100% Sheep’s Milk
• Style: Semi-aged | Natural rind
• Origin: Campania, Southern Italy
• Pricing: Sold by the ounce — minimum order applies
• Flavor: Buttery, lactic tang, toasted nuts, wildflower honey, lightly savory finish
• Best Paired With: Honey, walnuts, dried figs, Prosciutto di Parma, crusty bread, Southern Italian whites (Fiano, Greco di Tufo), or light reds (Aglianico)

One of Casa Madaio’s most approachable and crowd-pleasing cheeses — Paglierino is the cheese that converts everyone who tries it, with the warmth and depth of Cilento’s ancient pastoral landscape in every bite.