Switzerland’s great mountain cheese: nutty, sweet and fruity, and the soul of a good fondue.
Where it comes from
Le Gruyère AOP is made in western Switzerland, around the town of Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg, and in nearby cantons. It is made in village dairies from raw cow’s milk delivered twice a day. The cows eat grass in summer and hay in winter, and silage is not allowed.
The wheels weigh around 35 kg and ripen for at least five months, often ten months to more than a year for the stronger versions. It has been a protected name in Switzerland since 2001. France also makes a Gruyère, with its own protection, but the Swiss one is the original.
How it tastes
Young Gruyère is mild, creamy and nutty. With age, it becomes firmer, fruitier and more savoury, with notes of hazelnut, brown butter and dried fruit, and sometimes small crunchy crystals. Old wheels, sold as “réserve”, are powerful and long.
Gruyère is also one of the best melting cheeses in the world. It melts smoothly without turning oily or stringy, which is why it is the base of so many fondues, gratins and toasted sandwiches.
How to buy and serve it
- Ask for the age: mild for melting, réserve for the cheese board.
- Look for a dense, ivory paste with very few holes.
- Cut it into thin slices or batons.
- Take it out of the fridge an hour before serving.
The pairing
The local answer: a dry Swiss white. Chasselas from the shores of Lake Geneva is light, mineral and gentle, and it never overpowers the cheese. It is also the classic wine for fondue.
- Richer: Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris “Clos des Capucins” (about €28). Its smoky fruit flatters aged Gruyère.
- For old réserve wheels: Niepoort 10 Years Old Tawny Port (about €35.95), whose nutty notes mirror the cheese.
- Close to home: a dry Luxembourg Riesling or Auxerrois.
- Avoid: big red wines with melted Gruyère. They turn bitter.
Also try it with
- A classic fondue, half Gruyère and half Vacherin Fribourgeois.
- A croque-monsieur or French onion soup.
- Thin slices of pear and a few walnuts.
- Cured mountain ham.
More cheeses → · See all twenty bottles →
Photo: Pixabay
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.