Our top 5 cheeses of Burgundy
If you are a fan of cheese, then Burgundy is the place to be! The soft-paste Epoisses, Charolais goat's cheese, Abbaye de Citeaux cheese, and many more. Here are some recommendations for the perfect cheese platter, and some great places to find the cheeses.
Epoisses, an iconic cheese of Burgundy
"The King of the cheeses", is how Brillat-Savarin described Epoisses cheese in 1826. Matured using Marc de Bourgogne (with a distinctive scent) it should be served with a piece of good bread, pure and simple. It can also be used to make a sauce.
For an added touch of Burgundy: bake it in the oven for a few minutes on Dijon pain d'épices, for a delicious early-evening snack.
Abbaye de Cîteaux, the monks' cheese
The Cistercian monks from Notre-Dame de Cîteaux Abbey (near Nuits-Saint-Georges) have been producing this cheese for centuries. In 2020 it was awarded the silver medal at the Concours international de Lyon! Did you know that it takes 6 litres of Montbéliarde cow's milk to make a single Cîteaux cheese?
Our recommendation: a glass of Côte de Nuits to really bring out all the flavours.
Soumaintrain, a proud legacy
Soumaintrain is a soft cheese made from cow's milk with a washed rind, and has been produced in Burgundy for over a century. It is not as well-known as some other cheeses, and is fiercely proud of its PGI (Protection Geographical Indication).
A glass of Chablis is perfect to bring out the flavours of this cheese.
Charolais from southern Burgundy
If you are a fan of goat's cheese, you'll love the Charolais AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) produced in southern Burgundy. Production dates from the 16th century. For the best tasting experience, enjoy this rich cheese (it weighs 250g on average) with a glass of aromatic Burgundy white wine.
Please note: Goats don't produce milk all year round, so this cheese can only be tasted between March and October.
The aptly named "Côte-d'Or"
Are you looking to treat your guests with a great cheese platter? Opt for the latest addition to the family of Burgundy cheeses: the aptly named Côte-d'Or. It is 100% local just as its name suggests!
It has only been available since 2020 and is produced by Delin cheesemonger. We bet it will very quickly become a firm favourite for family gatherings!