Beaujolais and cheese : a match made in heaven

Beaujolais Nouveau: light, fresh, and fruity

Let’s start with the wine that everyone associates with the Beaujolais region: Beaujolais Nouveau. Released just weeks after harvest, this wine is all about youthful exuberance, offering bright red fruit flavors like cherry and raspberry. It’s light, low in tannins, and best served slightly chilled, making it a fun and refreshing choice for a casual cheese board.

Best cheese pairings for Beaujolais Nouveau

• Brie or Camembert: The creamy texture of these cheeses works beautifully with the freshness of Beaujolais Nouveau. The wine’s acidity cuts through the richness of the cheese, while the fruitiness complements the mild, buttery flavors.
• Goat Cheese (Chèvre): A fresh, tangy goat cheese paired with Beaujolais Nouveau is a match made in heaven. The wine’s bright acidity enhances the cheese’s tartness, creating a vibrant combination.

💡 Quick tip: Beaujolais Nouveau is best enjoyed within the first few months of its release, so make sure your cheese is fresh too!

Beaujolais Villages: a step up in flavor

Next, we move on to Beaujolais Villages, which offers more depth and complexity than Beaujolais Nouveau, without being overly heavy. The wines from this appellation are still easy-drinking but have darker fruit notes like black cherry and plum, along with a bit more body and structure.

Best cheese pairings for Beaujolais Villages

• Comté: This semi-hard cheese from the Jura region has nutty, buttery flavors that are enhanced by the fruit-forward nature of Beaujolais Villages. The wine’s acidity balances the creaminess, while its subtle earthiness complements the cheese’s depth.
• Tomme de Savoie: A slightly firmer cheese with a rustic, earthy flavor, Tomme de Savoie finds harmony with the smooth texture and ripe fruit flavors of Beaujolais Villages.

Beaujolais Blanc: Freshness Meets Creamy Cheeses

Though red wines dominate the Beaujolais region, **Beaujolais Blanc **—crafted from Chardonnay grapes— offers a refreshing and often underappreciated option for pairing with cheese. Known for its crisp acidity and aromas of citrus, pear, and white flowers, Beaujolais Blanc brings a lively, mineral-driven edge that complements a wide range of creamy cheeses.

Best cheese pairings for Beaujolais Blanc:

• Chaource: The mild tang and creamy texture of Chaource are a perfect match for the wine’s freshness and subtle minerality, resulting in a bright and elegant combination.
• Brillat-Savarin: This rich, buttery triple-cream cheese is balanced by the crisp acidity of Beaujolais Blanc, while the wine’s delicate fruit notes shine through the cheese’s mild flavor.
• Camembert: Earthy and soft, Camembert pairs beautifully with the pear and citrus undertones of Beaujolais Blanc, creating a satisfying harmony between the creamy texture and the wine’s bright finish.
• Fresh Goat Cheese (Chèvre): The tangy, slightly acidic profile of fresh chèvre is enhanced by the bright citrus notes and minerality of Beaujolais Blanc. The wine’s acidity cuts through the cheese’s creaminess, creating a refreshing, vibrant pairing.

Why Beaujolais Blanc works with cheese ?

The crisp acidity and fruit-forward profile of Beaujolais Blanc provide an excellent counterbalance to the rich, creamy textures of soft cheeses. The wine’s freshness cuts through the fat, while its subtle flavors complement the mildness of creamy cheeses without overpowering them.

Cru Beaujolais: the pinnacle of pairing

Now, let’s talk about the Crus of Beaujolais—the highest expression of the region’s winemaking. These wines are more structured, with greater depth, complexity, and aging potential. The ten Crus—such as Morgon, Fleurie, and Moulin-à-Vent—vary in style but generally offer darker fruit flavors, earthy undertones, and more pronounced tannins. Each of these Crus has distinct characteristics, making them perfect for pairing with richer, more pungent cheeses that can stand up to their complexity.

Detailed cheese pairings for each cru

Morgon: robust and earthy

Morgon is known for producing **robust wines** with a **solid structure** and ripe fruit flavors like black cherry and plum, along with earthy notes that develop with age.

Best cheese pairings for Morgon

• Reblochon: The creamy richness of Reblochon is balanced by the tannic structure and ripe fruit of Morgon.
• Cantal Vieux: The firm texture and pronounced taste of this aged cheese pair well with the depth of a mature Morgon.

Moulin-à-Vent: structured and age-worthy

Moulin-à-Vent is the "king" of Beaujolais, producing powerful wines with black fruit and floral aromas, along with more pronounced tannins and a long aging potential.

Best Cheese Pairings for Moulin-à-Vent

• Comté Affiné: The creamy richness and nuttiness of aged Comté match the power and tannins of Moulin-à-Vent.
• Époisses: This famously pungent cheese pairs well with the complex acidity and structure of Moulin-à-Vent, taming its intensity.

Fleurie: elegant and floral

Known for its elegance, Fleurie wines have floral notes of violet and peony, with softer tannins. These wines are lighter and easy to drink while still offering depth.

Best cheese pairings for Fleurie

• Brie de Meaux: The soft, creamy Brie complements the delicate floral aromas and smooth texture of Fleurie.
• Saint-Nectaire: The slight earthiness of this cheese pairs beautifully with the refined character of Fleurie.

Chiroubles: fresh and light

Chiroubles is one of the lightest Crus, known for its fresh, lively wines with red fruit aromas like raspberry and red currant. It’s perfect for pairing with milder cheeses.

Best cheese pairings for Chiroubles

• Goat Cheese (Chèvre): The wine’s acidity complements the tangy freshness of goat cheese, creating a vibrant match.
• Tomme de Savoie: Its nutty, mild flavor pairs well with the bright freshness of Chiroubles.

Brouilly: fruity and approachable

Brouilly produces easy-drinking, fruity wines with cherry and raspberry notes, and a hint of minerality from the granite soils.

Best cheese pairings for Brouilly

• Saint-Marcellin: A creamy, slightly tangy cheese that melts beautifully with Brouilly’s fruit-forward, fresh character.
• Reblochon: The creamy texture of Reblochon pairs well with Brouilly’s soft fruit flavors and minerality.

Côte de Brouilly: volcanic and refined

Côte de Brouilly is more refined than Brouilly, with mineral-driven wines from volcanic soils, combined with dark fruit and spice.

Best cheese pairings for Côte de Brouilly

• Salers: The firm texture and intense flavor of Salers match the mineral complexity and structure of Côte de Brouilly.
• Tomme de Chèvre: The rustic, slightly dry character of this goat cheese pairs well with the spiced minerality of the wine.

Juliénas: spicy and full-bodied

Juliénas produces wines with a spicy, full-bodied character, featuring dark fruits and notes of cinnamon and black pepper.

Best cheese pairings for Juliénas

• Maroilles: This powerful, creamy cheese balances the bold spice and structure of Juliénas.
• Fourme d'Ambert: A mild blue cheese that complements the spiciness and fruitiness of the wine.

Saint-Amour: romantic and delicate

Saint-Amour offers lighter, elegant wines with delicate fruit and floral aromas, making it a charming pairing for softer cheeses.

Best cheese pairings for Saint-Amour

• Coulommiers: A soft cheese similar to Brie, with a buttery flavor that pairs with the floral delicacy of Saint-Amour.
• Chaource: A creamy, soft cheese with a gentle acidity that complements the light fruit notes of Saint-Amour.

Chénas: rare and structured

Chénas produces structured wines with red fruit, floral aromas, and a touch of oak, often aging beautifully.

Best cheese pairings for Chénas

• Beaufort: The intense flavor and firm texture of Beaufort match the structure and richness of a mature Chénas.
• Tomme de Brebis: The smooth, slightly salty texture of sheep’s cheese pairs well with the fruity and oaky notes of Chénas.

Régnié: fruity and versatile

Régnié offers fruity, approachable wines with flavors of cherry and raspberry, often with a peppery kick.

Best cheese pairings for Régnié

• Tomme de Savoie: The nutty, earthy notes of this semi-firm cheese enhance the bright fruitiness of Régnié.
• Rocamadour: This soft goat cheese brings out the wine’s bright acidity and fruit, making for a lively, fresh pairing.

Why Beaujolais works so well with cheese 🧀 ?

Beaujolais wines pair well with cheese because of their acidity and moderate tannins. The natural acidity helps cleanse the palate after each bite of rich, creamy cheese, while the lighter tannins ensure that the wine never overpowers the delicate flavors of the cheese. Additionally, the fruity and often floral profiles of Beaujolais wines complement both mild and strong cheeses without clashing.