Banon

From southern France, Banon cheese is named after the town from which it originates; Banon. The cheese is pliable and soft and is sprinkled with a variety of herbs and chestnut leaves for added flavour. It is savoury and has some complex flavours. Try it with some dry white wine.

Brie De Melun

Said to be the original ‘Brie’, the Brie De Melun cheese is originally from northern France and has an aromatic yet musty straw-like smell. The texture is semi-soft, and it has a slightly salty, yet sour taste that is best paired with some wine from Burgundy or the Rhone Valley.

Etorki

Etorki is a pasteurized sheep’s milk cheese and is originally from southwestern France at the Fromagerie des Chaumes at Mauleon. The Etorki cheese is beautifully supple, ivory coloured and velvety smooth with a wonderful earthy smell and some nice hazelnut and caramel flavours. Pair it up with some sparkling white wine for some fun!

Abbaye De Citeaux

Another cheese named after the town from which it originated is Abbaye de Citeaux in Burgundy, France. It is essentially a cow’s milk cheese and this beautifully crafted cheese has a limited production made weekly. It also has clean, milky and earthy flavours that pair well with a light Burgundy wine or Volnay.

Valencay

A vegetarian cheese on the list is Valencay from central France that is essentially a goat’s milk cheese. It has a slightly blue colour with the shape of a perfect pyramid. There is a hint of mild pepperiness to its charcoal ashes, but it is excellent with some Sauvignon Blanc.