Brie, Camembert: what wine goes with soft cheese?
346 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.
Paulus Wine Co - Bosberaad Chenin Blanc 2022
An extraordinary white wine, made using the most natural extraction of the fruit.
Storm - Vrede Pinot noir 2018
A true local wine, this Pinot Noir expresses purity, elegance and aromatic depth
Groot Constantia - Gouverneurs Reserve White 2024
The great white vintage from the Groot Constantia estate!
Kabola - Malvazija 2021
An organic Croatian white wine made with finesse and lightness.
Moric - Blaufränkisch 2020
For Pinot Noir lovers, Blaufränkisch is an absolute must-try!
Etchart - Torrontés 2024
High altitude grape variety that grows only in Argentina, exuberant with fruit and freshness!
Wildeberg - Coterie Grenache & Syrah 2022
The alliance of Grenache's richness and Syrah's spicy finesse, offering a generous, silky, and remarkably balanced wine
Matías Riccitelli - Old Vine From Patagonia Bastardo 2023
A micro-production from Riccitelli, worked on finesse and elegance.
Matías Riccitelli - Sobre Suelos Calcareos Chardonnay 2023
A high altitude Argentinian Chardonnay combining purity, freshness and complexity.
Revancha - Chenin Primera Revancha 2020
Intense and expressive of its terroir, this Chenin blanc from Argentina will surprise you!
Undurraga - Lazo Chardonnay 2024
An exotic, charming and easy-drinking Chardonnay!
Cousiño Macul - Chardonnay 2017
A Chardonnay from one of the oldest estates in Chile combining roundness, freshness and expression.
Barone di Villagrande - Etna Bianco 2024
An organic white wine from the volcanic soils of Etna, of rare elegance!
Crystallum - Clay Shales Chardonnay 2024
A single-plot Chardonnay that has the class of great Burgundies
Rafael Palacios - Louro 2018
A wonderfully crafted expression of the Godello grape: ripe, elegant, balanced and refreshing.
Vassilis Vaîmakis - Mater Natura Muscat d'Alexandrie 2021
A white wine from the volcanic island of Limnos with a saline and mineral character
Lantides - Little Ark White 2019
A fine and refreshing wine from southern Greece, with exotic and mineral notes
Lantides - Little Ark Red 2020
A blend of 2 indigenous Greek grape varieties, with flavors of black fruits and spices
Bodegas Tobia - Daimon White Seleccion 2018
A complex, round and delicious Rioja white that offers you a journey full of flavors.
Domaine de Tournon - Landsborough Riesling- 2017
A ripe and complex Australian Riesling, signed Michel Chapoutier
Schieferkopf - Silvaner Trocken 2018
A wine from the Franken region, birthplace of the Sylvaner grape variety
Koehler Ruprecht Saumagen - Spätburgunder Trocken 2020
A delicious and nervous German Pinot Noir, with notes of forest fruits
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.