By: Nicole Dickerson / Last updated: March 15, 2024
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
As the world’s second-largest wine producer, France is home to several prestigious wine regions. Yet, there is one region renowned above the rest. Burgundy produces some of the world’s most acclaimed wines, setting the international gold standard for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Accordingly, this region also makes a bounty of local French cheeses, which pair exquisitely with Burgundian wines and more. Here is our selection of ten delicious Burgundy cheeses and wines to match for an authentic taste of the region
Époisses is the quintessential cheese of Burgundy, named for the village where it’s been made for over five centuries. When World War I began in 1914, Époisses’ production began to decline. Thankfully, local farmers with expertise from previous generations revived this delectable tradition. This cow’s milk cheese has a unique production process that imparts its signature flavor. While aging, the cheese is hand-washed three times a week with a mixture of water and Marc de Bourgogne, Burgundy’s version of brandy. The final cheese has a bloomy, soft orange rind with a creamy center. Though Époisses’ aromas are pungent, its flavors are mild, tangy, and nutty with hints of hay. This French cheese is best served at room temperature, becoming creamy enough to spoon onto a baguette.
Wine Pairings for Époisses
A rich cheese like Époisses calls for an opulent wine to match. Try a dry Chardonnay from CĂ´te de Beaune or Puligny-Montrachet. Both offer the richness to match Époisses’ creaminess and the delicate aroma to complement the cheese’s mild flavors nicely.
BRILLAT-SAVARIN
For a decadent taste of Burgundy, look no further than Brillat-Savarin. This triple cream cow’s milk cheese boasts a 75% fat content, offering a lusciously rich texture. In 1930, cheesemaker Henri AndrouĂ«t created Brillat-Savarin in Normandy. However, this delicacy is also made in Burgundy today. AndreouĂ«t named the cheese in honor of the legendary gourmet Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. Brillat-Savarin’s interior is dense yet soft and creamy with the same color as butter. The rich texture is due to the heavy cream added to the whole milk during production. Expect delicate, earthy flavors with a touch of grass, hay, and butter.
Wine Pairings for Brillat-Savarin
A Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre is the ultimate pairing for Brillat-Savarin. The wine’s high, crisp acidity balances the richness of this triple cream cheese. Additionally, Sancerre offers subtle flinty, smokey aromas and ripe gooseberry notes that shine beautifully with Brillat-Savarin.
Cistercian monks have inhabited the Abbey of Citeaux since 1098. Beyond a history of bookbinding and winemaking, the Abbey makes a sought-after pressed cow’s milk cheese. In 1925, the Abbey began producing this washed-rind cheese in their creamery. The milk comes from cows who graze on the grasses surrounding the Abbey. Due to the washed-rind process, Abbaye de Citeaux is quite intense. However, the flavors are much more mild and earthy, while the texture is dense and malleable. If you want to try Abbaye de Citeaux, you’ll have to come to Burgundy. Only 300 are produced every week, and most are sold directly from the Abbey.
Wine Pairings for Abbaye de Citeaux
A fruity Beaujolais loaded with berry notes and high acidity is a great wine pairing for this earthy, creamy cheese. A light-bodied, spicy Cinsault with bright acidity and red fruit notes would also be delicious.
AMI DU CHAMBERTIN
Hailing from red wine country, Ami du Chambertin is another rare Burgundy cheese worth seeking out. In 1950, Raymond Gaugry created this cheese in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin. Around thirty producers from the region contribute their milk to make Ami du Chambertin, which translates to ‘friend of Chambertin.’ Ami du Chambertin is also a washed-rind cheese made in the same methods as Époisses. It’s aged for two months while washed with a Marc de Bourgogne and water mixture. This encourages bacteria to form the wrinkly, orange-soft rind. The process also imparts a pungent smell, sharp flavor, and buttery texture.
Wine Pairings for Ami du Chambertin
A strong-flavored cheese like Ami du Chambertin calls for a wine with a little something extra. An off-dry GewĂĽrztraminer or Pinot Gris would do the trick. Both have fruit, spice notes, and high acidity, which can stand up to a bolder cheese.
SOUMAINTRAIN
Tucked away in the corner of Burgundy nearest the Champagne Region, you’ll find another soft washed-rind cheese called Soumaintrain. During the maturation process, an increasing amount of Marc de Bourgogne is added to the wash, creating a sticky, rich orange rind. The Soumaintrain I.G.P. draws its essence from a network of twenty-three dairy farms, encompassing an array of cheeses produced both on these farms and at the region’s dairies. Soumaintrain is known for its lush grasslands, which the cows feed on and, in turn, provide earthy flavors to the finished cheese. This gem from Burgundy is characterized by a pale-yellow rind with a soft, melting interior and mild flavors.
A whole plethora of goat cheeses are produced throughout France, and Burgundy is no exception. Charolais is one of the more unique goat cheeses made in Burgundy. Unlike others, Charolais is shaped into a larger cylindrical shape which is better for extended storage. Made in the area of Charolle, this cheese’s signature fine-grained texture comes from a lengthy lactic fermentation process. This method ages the milk for 12-24 hours, naturally forming a curd before processing. When young, Charolais has a soft, wrinkly rind that hardens as the cheese ages. Expect tangy flavors typical of goat cheese, along with notes of nuts and minerals.
Wine Pairings for Charolais
A crisp, high-acid Chardonnay from Chablis pairs deliciously with Charolais. The wine’s high acidity is an excellent complement to the tangy, creamy goat cheese. Simultaneously, Chablis’s aroma of citrus, minerals, and hay matches Charolais’s flavors perfectly.
Berthaut, one of the most famed Époisses producers, also created a smaller washed-rind cheese called Trou du Crou. Once this cow’s milk cheese is made, it’s washed with Marc de Bourgogne throughout the aging process. During this time, the cheese ages in caves lying on straw mats. Trou du Crou has a similar pungent aroma to other washed-rind cheeses, along with aromas of alcohol and hay from the aging process. It has stronger flavors with a subtle aftertaste of dried flowers.
Wine Pairings for Trou du Crou
This pungent, decadent cheese and an off-dry Chenin Blanc from Vouvray are delicious. The wine’s ripe fruit aromas of peach, pear, and delicate florals, coupled with a touch of sweetness, are a fantastic match for Trou du Crou’s flavors.
Author
Nicole Dickerson
WSET certified international wine writer passionate about rare varieties and cellar hand experience in both hemispheres.
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