Pairings | Sauternes

What to pair with Epoisses (and other stinky cheeses)

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on February 23 2022 at 10:59

What on earth do you drink with Époisses and France’s other famous stinky washed-rind cheeses such as Pont-l'Évêque, Maroilles, Munster and Langres? The problem is that the more mature and stinky you like your cheese, the tougher it will be on any wine you pair with it.

Personally I think they’re better with a spirit or beer than with wine, particularly red wine which makes sense as the rind of the cheese is often washed with white wine, beer or eau de vie.

Marc de Bourgogne

Basically the local brandy. Strong and spicy - my favourite with an Époisses that’s practically crawling off the cheeseboard

Strong Belgian or Northern French beers

Trappist beers like Orval or Chimay or what are known in Northern France as bières de grade - again because they come from the same region as the cheese

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Tags: gewurztraminer Sauternes genever Marc de Bourgogne Calvados Belgian beer Langres Munster Pont L'Eveque Epoisses stinky cheese food:cheese washed-rind cheese

Comments: 4 (Add)

Fiona Beckett on August 21 2021 at 08:32

Gonna have to try that! (Although not sure I want my red burg to taste of honey ðŸ˜‰)

Ewan Murray on August 21 2021 at 07:33

Pinot noir does the trick for me. Admittedly the wine stops tasting like pinot noir, but it does start tasting like honey, so that’s a bonus. Also means that it doesn’t have to be red Burgundy - cheap Chilean pinot would do the trick.

Warren on April 12 2021 at 17:36

A good fino

David Natt on January 10 2020 at 17:58

Biere de garde.

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