Époisses de Bourgogne (France)

Époisses is a soft washed-rind Cow cheese from the village Époisses in Burgundy.

Wine Pairing Époisses

Époisses has a powerful flavor with a funky odor, a mouth watering taste of sweet, salty and creamy milk. The rind is regularly washed in Grape Pomace to add complexity and taste.

Pomace is the remains of grapes, olives, or other fruit after being pressed for juice or oil. It contains the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems of the fruit.

Burgundy Whites

A Burgundy white is a classic pairing. Époisses comes from Burgundy, so local combinations are especially successful.

Meursault
Puligny-Montrachet
Rich Chardonnay

Creamy texture matches the cheese
Acidity cuts through richness
Buttery/nutty notes complement the savory funk

Dessert Wines

Washed rind cheeses are known for pungent aromas and complex flavors. They pair best with dessert wines that can complement their strong characteristics:

Sauternes

Consider pairing Époisses with Sauternes, a luxurious French dessert wine made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes. The wine's honeyed sweetness and rich flavors of apricot and peach can complement the cheese's savory richness, creating a harmonious pairing.

Tokaji Aszú

From Hungary, this rich, sweet wine is known for its vibrant acidity and flavors of orange peel, dried fruits, and honey. It can cut through the richness and funkiness of Époisses, offering a refreshing contrast.

Aromatic White Wines

Aromatic white wines with floral and fruity notes can be excellent companions to washed-rind cheeses.

Gewürztraminer

An aromatic white wine like Gewürztraminer from Alsace can pair nicely with Époisses. Its floral and spicy notes can complement the cheese's pungency.

Riesling Spätlese

A slightly off-dry Riesling with vibrant acidity can balance out the strong flavor of Époisses. Look for a German or Alsace Riesling Spätlese with some residual sugar to contrast the cheese's intensity.

Pinot Gris

An off-dry Pinot Gris from Alsace, France, with flavors of ripe pear, stone fruits, and honey can pair nicely with Époisses. The wine's slight sweetness can balance the cheese's tanginess, while its acidity can refresh the palate.

Sparkling Wines

Sparkling wines can be excellent choices for soft cheeses. The bubbles cleanse the palate between bites, while the acidity complements the creaminess of the cheese. Yeasty notes pair beautifully with washed-rind funk.

Champagne & Crémant

A dry Blanc de Blancs works especially well with Époisses because both share a kind of savory fermentation character that complements rather than fights.

Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) spends years aging on lees (dead yeast cells). This creates flavors and aromas like brioche, bread dough, toasted pastry, nuts and unami. Those notes come from autolysis, a controlled yeast-driven aging process.

Époisses develops its powerful aroma from surface bacteria and ripening microbes. That creates earthy, meaty, mushroomy, barnyardy, savory/umami flavors.

Even though the aromas can seem very different, both Champagne lees aging and washed-rind ripening produce deep savory complexity.

Light Red Wines

If you want red wine: choose a light wine. Low tannin is important. Too much tannin clashes badly with washed-rind cheeses.

Beaujolais

A light-bodied red wine like Beaujolais, made from Gamay grapes, can complement the creamy texture of an Époisses.

Beaujolais wines typically offer fruity notes of cherry and raspberry, along with soft tannins and refreshing acidity.

Pinot Noir

A light bodied Pinot Noir can work well with an Époisses cheese. Its fruity and earthy notes can harmonize with the cheese without overwhelming it.

Personal Preferences

Enjoy your wine and cheese with local fruits nuts and bread!

Personal preferences play a significant role in wine and cheese pairings, so don't hesitate to experiment to find the combination that suits your taste buds best.

Consider adding some accompaniments like fruit, nuts, or bread to enhance the pairing experience: