Gregorio Rotolo cheese maker

Don’t be fooled by his big beard and tall presence, for Gregorio Rotolo is a very sweet and humble man, and someone who has been making delicious cheeses for as long as anyone can remember. His ‘Gregoriano’ cheese is indeed well known across the region, as well as his Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine-soaked pecorino cheese. I still remember the first time I met him: he was selling his cheeses out of a little stand opposite a beautiful lodge in the mountains of Abruzzo. In fact, I still can’t forget his sheep-milk ricotta, and lovely, fresh pecorino. Gregorio also owns an agriturismo in the Scanno area, a place I had long wanted to visit. When I finally managed to visit his place, we were welcomed by a huge bucket of sourdough bread dough that was resting by the fire, followed with a delicious lunch. All of his comforting dishes are made exclusively with homemade ingredients – including his cold cuts and breads. A truly lovely place, it is a gem hidden amongst the mountains of Abruzzo.