Brie, Camembert: what wine goes with soft cheese?
307 wines to serve with Brie, Camembert and soft cheesesWith a soft cheese, go for a light, fruity Pinot Noir or a fresh, round white such as a Chardonnay or a Chenin Blanc. Washed-rind cheeses, which are more powerful, prefer an aromatic Riesling.
Brie, Camembert, Coulommiers and Chaource offer a creamy texture that calls for freshness. Munster, Époisses or Maroilles call for more character. Our selection draws on Burgundy, South Africa, Argentina and Italy to go with every rind. To put together a complete cheeseboard, read our wine and cheese feature.
Elena Walch - Gewurztraminer 2024
Lychee, rose and ginger: all the exuberance of Alpine Gewürztraminer.
Cristom - Louise Vineyard 2021
A volcanic hillside Pinot Noir combining aromatic finesse, freshness, and textural depth.
Friedrich Becker - Kammerberg Spätburgunder 2018
A great Spätburgunder from limestone terroir, combining finesse, depth and aromatic precision.
Ziereisen - Jaspis Zipsin Pinot Noir 2021
A Pinot Noir from a limestone terroir, precise and elegant, where the finesse of the fruit meets a deep and digestible structure.
Friedrich Becker - Becker Family Spätburgunder 2019
A precise and elegant Spätburgunder, where Schweigen's limestone soil imparts a finely structured red wine.
Domaine Vaudoisey - Volnay Rouge 2022
The finesse of Volnay in Pinot Noir: strawberry, raspberry, silky tannins and a long finish.
Domaine Vaudoisey - Volnay 1er Cru Les Mitans Rouge 2023
Volnay premier cru: lace-like finesse over vibrant red fruit.
Domaine Dubois - Vosne-Romanée Chalandins 2022
Vosne-Romanée Aux Chalandins: black cherry and violet on a silky frame.
Domaine Jean-François Bouthenet - Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Au Paradis Rouge 2022
Red fruit from the Hautes-Côtes, lifted by a hint of gentle spice.
Domaine Dubois - Bourgogne Côte d’Or Issu de Vieilles Vignes Rouge 2023
Old vines in the Côte d'Or: cherry and forest floor carried by fine tannins.
Domaine Dubois - Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2020
A Clos de Vougeot grand cru: truffle and forest floor over powerful tannins.
Domaine Dubois - Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Rouge Les Narbantons 2023
Morello cherry and truffle, a dense premier cru where roasted coffee shows through on the finish.
Calera - Ryan Pinot Noir 2018
Flowers, spice and a mineral touch, a lively Pinot that the barrique dresses in vanilla.
Hahn - Chardonnay 2022
A generous and balanced Californian Chardonnay, where coastal freshness meets rich fruit.
Au Bon Climat - La Bauge au-dessus 2021
A Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir combining coastal freshness, aromatic finesse, and a silky texture.
Cristom - Mt Jefferson 2021
A precise and vibrant Oregon Pinot Noir, where the coolness of the climate marries with a silky and deep texture.
Elizabeth Spencer - Pinot Noir 2022
A precise and elegant Californian Pinot Noir, combining freshness, aromatic finesse and a silky texture.
Erath - Pinot Noir Estate Selection Willamette Valley 2019
Erath's single-plot selection, a silky, fragrant Oregon Pinot.
Haynes - Corazon 2021
A precise and vibrant Coombsville Chardonnay where freshness, aromatic purity, and textural finesse converge.
Elizabeth Spencer - Chardonnay 2022
A precise and balanced Californian Chardonnay, where coastal freshness meets elegant woody indulgence.
Cycles Gladiator - Chardonnay 2022
A generous and balanced Californian Chardonnay, where freshness meets a subtly woody sweetness.
Fantini - Sangiovese Terre di Cheti 2022
A dense, fruity and balanced wine, with a marked typicality of Abruzzo
Revancha - Primera Revancha Malbec 2016
A Malbec with velvet tannins, from the best plots of the estate
Torres - Pago del Cielo Celeste Crianza 2020
An altitude red, where the vines and the sky form a magical connection
Brie, Munster, goat's cheese: which wine for each soft cheese?
The rind dictates the pairing: bloomy rinds love delicate wines; washed rinds call for fragrant, generous whites.
| Cheese | Wines to choose | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Brie Brie de Meaux, Brie de Melun | Light Pinot Noir, fresh Chardonnay | Red fruit and acidity lighten the cream and highlight the mushroom notes. |
| Camembert Camembert de Normandie, Coulommiers | Chenin Blanc, supple Pinot Noir | The liveliness of Chenin and its apple notes recall the Normandy terroir. |
| Triple cream Chaource, Brillat-Savarin, Délice de Bourgogne | Sparkling rosé, lively Chardonnay | Bubbles and tension cleanse the palate after a very rich cheese. |
| Munster Munster, Géromé | German Riesling, Argentinian Torrontés | The aromatic intensity of the white stands up to the washed rind. |
| Strong washed-rind cheeses Époisses, Langres, Maroilles, Livarot | Burgundy Chardonnay, off-dry Riesling | A rich, generous white balances the power and salt of the rind. |
| Mont d'Or Mont d'Or, Vacherin served hot or cold | Full-bodied Chardonnay, Viognier | The resinous notes of this spruce-banded cheese go well with round whites. |
| Saint-Marcellin Saint-Marcellin, Saint-Félicien | Pinot Noir, fruity Grenache | This mild, gentle cheese from Lyon loves generous, supple reds. |
| Fresh or aged goat's cheese Crottin, Sainte-Maure, Valençay | Sauvignon Blanc | The lemony liveliness of Sauvignon answers the acidity of goat's milk. |
With a very runny Brie or Camembert, go for a white or bubbles: a well-ripened creamy paste sometimes accentuates the tannins of a red.
Pinot Noir, a friend to bloomy rinds
Our take: for Brie and Camembert, Pinot Noir remains the most fitting red. Its light frame, cherry fruit and forest floor notes extend the mushroom aroma of the rind. Burgundy's plays on delicacy, while those from South Africa or Chile bring sunnier fruit.
For whites, South African Chenin Blanc deserves your attention: its liveliness and quince notes balance the creaminess of a ripe Camembert. For washed rinds, turn to German Riesling, whose tension and fragrance answer Munster brilliantly. Want to surprise? The Nebbiolo d'Alba Spumante Brut Rosé from 460 Casina Bric brings fine bubbles and crunchy fruit to a Brillat-Savarin.
Three pairings to dare
Saint-Marcellin and Chilean Pinot Noir. Bright fruit for the creamy softness of this Lyon cheese.
Munster and German Riesling. The freshness of the wine lightens the power of the washed rind.
Camembert and Chenin Blanc. Notes of apple and quince that recall the orchards of Normandy.
The Wine Wanderer Team
Your questions about wine and soft cheeses
What wine goes with Camembert?
With Camembert, serve a lively Chenin Blanc or a light Pinot Noir. Chenin, with its notes of apple and quince, refreshes the creamy paste. Pinot Noir brings delicate red fruit that goes with the bloomy rind. For a very ripe Camembert, white offers the most harmonious pairing.
What red wine goes with Brie?
Pinot Noir is the ideal red with Brie. Its fine tannins and cherry fruit pair with the smooth texture and mushroom aromas. A fruity Grenache also works. Choose light reds, served slightly chilled, to preserve the elegance of the cheese.
White or red wine with soft cheese?
White wine offers the safest pairing with most soft cheeses. Its freshness balances the cream and salt. Red works very well with bloomy rinds as long as it stays light, like a Pinot Noir. Washed rinds, which are more powerful, find their best partner in an aromatic white such as Riesling.
What wine goes with Munster or Époisses?
For a Munster or an Époisses, choose an aromatic, generous white: Riesling, Torrontés or Burgundy Chardonnay. These washed-rind cheeses have a pronounced smell and a powerful paste. A fragrant white with a touch of roundness goes the distance and reveals the mildness hidden beneath the rind.
At what temperature should wine be served with Brie?
Serve a Pinot Noir at around 14 to 15 °C and a white at around 10 °C with Brie. A slightly chilled red shows off its fruit and goes better with the cream. Take the cheese out an hour in advance: at the right temperature, a soft cheese becomes runny and releases its hazelnut and mushroom aromas.
What wine goes with baked Mont d'Or?
With a hot Mont d'Or, serve a full-bodied, fresh white, such as a Chardonnay or a Viognier. The melted cheese, scented by its spruce box, loves round wines with buttery and floral notes. Served with potatoes and charcuterie, it also takes a light Pinot Noir.