A little goat’s cheese from the hills of Sancerre, and one of the most perfect pairings in France.
Where it comes from
Crottin de Chavignol comes from the village of Chavignol, near Sancerre, in the Loire Valley of central France. Goats have been raised among the vineyards here for centuries. It has been a protected name since 1976.
It is a small cheese, about the size of a large egg cup, made from whole goat’s milk. It ripens for at least ten days, and much longer for firmer, stronger versions.
How it tastes
- Young (a couple of weeks): white, soft and fresh, with a lemony tang and notes of milk and herbs.
- Medium (a month or so): firmer, with a bluish rind and a nutty, more goaty flavour.
- Old (several months): hard, dry and intense, almost crumbly, with a strong, savoury bite.
The name crottin is often said to come from “crot”, a small clay oil lamp once used in local homes, whose shape the cheese recalls. It sounds rustic, but the cheese is anything but.
How to buy and serve it
- Choose the age you like: fresh for salads, older for the cheese board.
- Keep it in waxed paper in the fridge.
- Serve at room temperature.
- The rind is edible.
The pairing
The only answer: Sancerre. The cheese and the wine come from the same hills. The bright acidity, citrus and flint of the Sauvignon Blanc cut through the tangy, creamy goat’s milk. It is the textbook example of what grows together goes together.
- From our list: Domaine Vacheron Sancerre Blanc (about €28), from a biodynamic family domaine on the flinty hills of Sancerre.
- Cheaper: a Touraine or Menetou-Salon Sauvignon Blanc.
- For an old, hard crottin: a red Sancerre made from Pinot Noir.
- Close to home: a dry Luxembourg Riesling.
Also try it with
- Warm on toast, on a green salad with walnuts: the famous crottin chaud.
- A drizzle of honey and fresh thyme.
- Sliced into a tomato and herb tart.
- Fresh figs or a few cherry tomatoes.
More cheeses → · See all twenty bottles →
Photo: Markus Lindholm, CC BY-SA 2.5, 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.