Burgundy’s boldest cheese: orange, sticky, wonderfully pungent, and spoon-soft when ripe.
Where it comes from
Époisses comes from the village of the same name in Burgundy, in eastern France. Monks are said to have first made it in the 16th century. After almost disappearing in the 20th century, it was revived by local producers and became a protected name in 1991.
It is made from cow’s milk. During ripening, the rind is washed by hand with brine and then with Marc de Bourgogne, the local grape brandy. The washing helps the special bacteria that turn the rind orange and give the cheese its famous smell. It ripens for at least four weeks and is sold in a round wooden box.
How it tastes
The smell is bigger than the taste. Inside, the paste is creamy, salty and meaty, with notes of broth and a gentle sweetness. Ripe, it becomes so soft that you eat it with a spoon.
Époisses is a cheese to plan for. Keep it in a closed box, take it out a good hour before dinner, and serve it as the last cheese on the board, after milder ones.
How to buy and serve it
- Buy it in its box, from a good cheesemonger.
- The rind should be shiny and orange-red, not dry or cracked.
- Keep it well wrapped, in its box, away from other food in the fridge.
- Serve at room temperature: open the box and spoon it out.
The pairing
Our pick: a rich white Burgundy. A Meursault or a ripe Mâcon has the body and the gentle fruit to stand up to the cheese. Red wine often struggles here, because the salt and the rind make tannin taste bitter.
- Rich and aromatic: Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris “Clos des Capucins” (about €28). Its touch of richness softens the salt.
- The local finish: a small glass of Marc de Bourgogne, the same brandy that washes the rind.
- Close to home: a Luxembourg Pinot Gris or a Vendanges Tardives.
- Avoid: tannic reds.
Also try it with
- Toasted country bread or a warm baguette.
- Boiled new potatoes.
- Baked in its box for a few minutes, then dipped into with bread.
- A crisp green salad on the side.
More cheeses → · See all twenty bottles →
Photo: Coyau, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Prices were checked in October 2026 and can change. Please drink responsibly. L’abus d’alcool est dangereux pour la santé, à consommer avec modération.