Azienda Agricola Petet
Family dairy farm at Esine in Val Camonica, north of Lake Iseo, making Silter DOP from Brown Alpine cows. Farm shop in Esine and market stalls at Provaglio d'Iseo and Gussago.
About Silter
A hard cow's-milk cheese made from raw milk in the Valle Camonica and Sebino Bresciano mountain communities of Brescia province, and listed by the Franciacorta consortium among its typical cheeses. At least 80 percent of the herd must be Grigio Alpina, Pezzata Rossa or Bruna, with Bruna at least 60 percent of the cows in milk. The milk is partly skimmed by standing, cooked, pressed and aged on wooden boards for at least 100 days in rooms called silter. Wheels are 34 to 40 cm across, 8 to 10 cm high and weigh 10 to 16 kg. Qualigeo says the name is almost certainly Celtic and that the first written trace is from the late 17th century, in a chancellor of Zone's document naming Monte Guglielmo.
Made in: Municipalities of the Valle Camonica and Sebino Bresciano mountain communities, Brescia province
On the plate
Mostly sweet, faintly bitter, and slightly peppery in very aged wheels, per Qualigeo. The aroma is lasting, with dried fruit, a hint of forage and chestnut flour. The paste is hard, crumbly and not very elastic.
Rind: natural crust
Wine and cheese
What to pour with Silter
Franciacorta Brut Franciacorta
Our pickQualigeo suggests Franciacorta DOP with Silter, which is mostly sweet and crumbly, peppery when long aged, with dried fruit on the nose. A Franciacorta Brut brings high acidity and fine bubbles that lift the hard, crumbly paste.
Franciacorta Riserva Franciacorta
Our pickLong-aged Silter is hard and crumbly, mostly sweet and faintly peppery, with dried fruit, forage and chestnut flour on the nose. A full-bodied Franciacorta Riserva, long on its lees, has the depth for those notes, and its acidity cuts the dense paste.
The grapes behind these winesChardonnayPinot Nero
From the source
Where to buy and taste it
Società Agricola Prestello delle Sorelle Bettoni
Mountain farm at Prestine, Bienno, in Val Camonica, north of Lake Iseo, with Brown Alpine cows and Adamello blonde goats. It makes Silter DOP and the Slow Food fatulì.
Zona Alpi, La Malga in Città
Cheese shop in the historic centre of Brescia. Since 2015 Marzia and Bruno select, age and sell the mountain cheeses of the Brescia valleys, and deliver to Bassa Franciacorta.
Gastronomia Gigola
Family-run delicatessen in Brescia selling Bagòss, Nostrano Valtrompia and formaggelle di Crocedomini beside Grana Padano Riserva and French cheeses, with a wine range that includes Franciacorta.
Cheese experiences nearby
Malghe Aperte Silter DOP
Silter consortium programme on set days each summer: alpine dairies in the Val Camonica, north of Lake Iseo, show visitors the herd at pasture, the milking and the making of Silter DOP, with Silter to taste.
Laboratori del Casaro at Cà de Bì
Cheesemaker workshops on a goat farm at Ome, in the Franciacorta hills, where visitors learn to make fresh cheeses. Phone the farm ahead for dates, length and price.
Mercato Agricolo Coperto Campagna Amica, Brescia
Covered farmers' market in Brescia where producers of the province sell direct. Il Colmetto, the goat farm at Rodengo Saiano, sells its goat cheeses, yogurts and puddings at its stall here.
Merende in Fattoria at Cà de Bì
Tastings of the farm's goat cheeses and local products on a goat farm at Ome, in the Franciacorta hills. Phone the farm ahead for dates and price.
Silter: questions
How long is Silter aged?
At least 100 days, with the wheels turned regularly on wooden boards in controlled-temperature rooms, per Qualigeo.
Which local wine does Qualigeo suggest with it?
Qualigeo says it goes well with local excellences such as Franciacorta DOP or Valcamonica IGP.
Where can it be made?
Only in the municipalities of the Valle Camonica and Sebino Bresciano mountain communities, in Brescia province.
How big is a wheel?
Qualigeo gives 34 to 40 cm across, 8 to 10 cm high and 10 to 16 kg.
Same cheeseboard
More cheeses from Franciacorta
Plan the trip
Visit Silter country
Tastings and tours where it is made, and somewhere to stay.
Franciacorta
Franciacorta: Guided Winery Tour and Tasting Experience
All 135 experiences in FranciacortaBooking links go to our partners (GetYourGuide, Viator, Zen Hotels), who may pay us a commission. It never decides what we cover. Editorial standards.
Sources: protection register, www.qualigeo.eu, franciacorta.wine. The drawing is made from the cheese's recorded shape, rind and paste, not a photograph.