Exceptional Australian-made traditional Italian cheese.
Vannella Cheese originates in Conversano, Puglia, a little town in the south of Italy where Pina Vannella was born. Vito Minoia, our founder and head cheesemaker, was born just 15km down the road.
At the age of sixteen, Vito began an apprenticeship learning how to hand stretch curds for Burrata and Stracciatella. Back then everything was done by hand.
Over the following years Vito worked in some of Italy’s best cheese factories, returning to Conversano to marry Pina, and later to open their business – Caseificio Vannella. Eventually, their children Annarita and Giuseppe were born.
In 2004 the family moved to Australia. First to Cairns, operating their cheese factory close to the farms that provided their milk, and later moving to the city to bring their cheese closer to the tables where it was being served.
To this day, the Vannella business remains a true family-owned and operated business, with Vito mentoring generations of cheesemakers to come. His son Giuseppe and granddaughter Martina now work alongside him in production each day, handcrafting a variety of fresh, stretched curd cheeses that sing the traditions of their birthplace.
Recognised as pioneers in the industry, Australia has a lot to thank the Minoia family for as they helped introduce the ever-popular Burrata to dining tables around the country. The family has gained a lot in return, over the years learning about many different dairy products from the people they have met along their journey. As a result, the Vannella range has evolved to include beautifully creamy buffalo feta, traditional oaxaca cheese, naturally fermented buffalo yogurt and much more.
When you taste a Vannella product, you taste the passion, history, and tradition all in one bite. And just like that, Vito has now been a cheesemaker for over fifty years. It’s all he’s ever done and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
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