The village of Cheddar was an ideal place for cheese making.
Near the village there is a limestone gorge, the Cheddar Gorge, with many caves that in the Middle Ages provided a stable temperature and adequate humidity for the ripening process.
"Parmigiano Reggiano" and "Parmesan" are Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) for cheese produced in these provinces under Italian and European law.
Outside the European Union, the name "Parmesan" can be legally used for similar cheeses. The designation "Parmigiano Reggiano" refers only to the original Italian cheese.