2. Activities
3. Gastronomy
4. Cheese factory
5. GAEC di Vallecalle

Cheese delivered to villages in the region

The Casanova cheese dairy was founded in 1980 by Pierre-Philippe and Angèle in the village of Vallecalle in the heart of the Nebbiu region. It's a family business that their children - Laetitia and Jean-Noël - took over more than ten years ago, following in the footsteps of their grandfather who already owned goats.

Jean-Noël Casanova and Patrick Sanchez joined forces in 2011, after attending agricultural school together. They look after the breeding and production, while Laetitia Casanova manages the commercial side, selling and delivering cheese throughout the Nebbiu region and to markets including Bastia.

Home delivery with refrigerated lorry

This has been the trademark of the Casanova cheese dairy for over 40 years. Corsican cheese is delivered by refrigerated lorry to the villages of the Nebbiu region from January to July.

A quality cheese with a useful delivery service that is appreciated in the region by a loyal clientele. The herd has been expanded, and the project for a new cheese dairy is nearing completion. GAEC di Vallecalle is also a member of the Cagsiu Casanu association, and the cheese dairy is signposted on the Route des Sens.

Corsican ewe's milk yoghurt

Since 2023, the cheese dairy has marketed ewe's milk yoghurt, available for direct sale, on the road and at markets, selling for €1 a pot.

The Fromagerie laboratory

Built next to the family home, the laboratory has been designed to be as functional as possible, with modern machinery for all stages of production (Pasteuriser, production vat, cheese table).

Ewe's milk and goat's milk are stored in different tanks so that they can be processed and dosed differently.

Sheep's milk is used to make ewe's milk tomme and ewe's milk yoghurt, protein-rich brocciu is made from 75% goat's milk and 25% ewe's milk, while fromage frais is essentially made from goat's milk.

Ripened goat's cheese is square-shaped, while ewe's cheese is round, so that you can tell them apart.

Making brocciu and curdled milk

Goat's and sheep's cheese

The farm has 760 Corsican goats and 200 ewes.

Cheese prices

The Casanova cheese dairy can supply you with sheep's and goat's cheese:

• Goat's cheese: fromage frais, Corsican tomme, aged cheese, brocciu
• Sheep's milk cheese: matured cheese, Corsican tomme

Cheese delivery : Nebbiu - Conca d'Oro - Cap - Bastia - Marché

Direct sales and village tours

The Vallecalle sheepfold is open 7 days a week for direct sales in the mornings until 12.30pm, and in the afternoons by appointment.

The Casanova cheese dairy mainly delivers its cheese (fromage frais, brocciu and matured cheese) to several micro-regions in Haute-Corse. Deliveries by refrigerated lorry take place throughout the week from January to July, except on Sundays. The rounds have been a company tradition for over 40 years. Today it's Laetitia who criss-crosses the roads from the Nebbiu to the Cap via the Conca d'Oro, at the wheel of her refrigerated vehicle, whose horn blows in the village streets every week.

To take advantage of a tour and buy cheese, don't hesitate to get in touch with Laetitia, who will let you know when she'll be round, depending on your address and the commune where you live.

Bastia market

On Saturdays, Laetitia takes you to the Bastia market from January to July and the Oletta farmers' market in July and August.

Catering

Several establishments buy their cheeses from the Casanova dairy: the But restaurant in Murato, La Gaffe, L'Europe and La Crique in Saint-Florent, the A forge restaurant in Oletta and the Le Mercure hotel in Biguglia, and the U Chiurlinu grocery shop in Furiani.

France 3 Corse Via Stella report on the cheese dairy

Report on the operation of the Fromagerie Casanova Gaec di Vallecalle and the problems of global warming, published in the JT du 19/20 on 8 January 2024 on France 3 Corse Via Stella, and with the agricultural college of Borgu, in the evening edition 19/20 on Sunday 11 February 2024.

Sale of Corsican lambs and goats for Christmas and Easter

From the end of the year until spring, the GAEC di Vallecalle farm sells Corsican lamb and goat for Christmas and Easter, and the rest of the year depending on availability. The goats weigh between 5 and 10 kg, depending on the season.

Address and Contacts : GAEC di Vallecalle