Gioia Cheese Co.

Originally from Puglia, a region in southeastern Italy, Vito Girardi is a third generation cheesemaker who started learning his family’s trade when he was only 14 years old. Vito moved to southern California in 1992, with the goal of introducing his family’s recipes to the American market and founded the Gioia Cheese Co. in 1993. An instant hit, Vito makes classic cheeses by hand, with the best American products he can source.