Top 90 Rhônalpin Foods

Saint-Félicien is a soft French cheese originating from the region of Rhône-Alpes. The cheese is made from cow’s milk and has a creamy texture, while its flavor can be described as fruity, sour, nutty, and buttery. During the aging process, it develops a bloomy rind with a strong mushroomy aroma which does not really match the flavors of the cheese. Due to its fragile nature, this cheese often comes packaged in small terracotta pots. It is recommended to pair it with crusty baguettes, olives, or a glass of red wine.Expand

Named after its town of origin and produced in the French Rhône-Alpes region since the Middle Ages, Beaufort is a hard cheese made from raw milk of the Tarentaise cattle breed. It is typically matured much longer than its softer Alpine counterparts, about four to five months. During the first two months, Beaufort is salt-rubbed on a daily basis, and once the rind has matured enough, the cheese wheels are smeared with morge - a mixture of brine, whey and old cheese scrapings. This distinctive convex-sided cheese comes in three varieties: Le Beaufort, produced from November to May; Le Beaufort d’Été, produced in the summer and Le Beaufort Chalet d’Alpage, the most prized variety made in Alpine chalets using only milk from a single herd of cows pastured at altitudes of 1500m and above. Young Beaufort has a mild, buttery taste and a pronounced fruity aroma, while matured cheeses develop an exceptional depth of strong, complex flavors.Expand

Raclette de Savoie is an ancient mountain cheese common to the Savoie region in France and the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It derives its name from racler, meaning to scrape, which describes the way the local people cut this cheese. Raclette is a semi-soft cow's milk cheese, unpasteurized, with a dark-beige slightly sticky rind and a light yellow paste. It has a pleasant flavor but it gets particularly tasty when heated in front of a fire or under a hot grill and only then the full aroma intensifies. Traditionally, a large cheese was cut in half and leant against a stone facing the open fire. The outer layer of the elastic interior was allowed to heat up gradually, and when it started to crinkle and change color, people would smother baked potatoes in the hot melting cheese. The rich and nutty aroma of the cheese is the perfect partner for the potatoes but it also pairs well with cooked and cured meat. Today, the traditional dish can be created by heating slices of cheese under the grill and served with tea like in Valais or with white wine such as the traditional Vin de Savoie.Expand

Reblochon is a semi-hard, pressed cheese with a weight of about 500 grams, made from unpasteurized cow's milk that must ripen for at least 15 days in the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie in France. According to an old tale, it exists because a farmer made the milk into cheese to hide a part of his milk production in order to lower his "milk taxes" that he paid to the pasture's owners. Reblochon has a yellow to orange rind with an ivory body inside. Its rind is edible, and the taste of the cheese is nutty and slightly fruity. The smell is intense and reminiscent of cellars in which it has matured. It melts well and tastes great on baked potatoes.Expand

Tomme de Savoie is an uncooked, semi-soft cheese with a gray rind that has yellow and red spots all over it. The cheese is made from cow's milk in the regions of Savoie and Haute-Savoie in France. It is the oldest cheese from the Savoie region, where the mountain climate gives the cheese its unique qualities. Tomme de Savoie was invented when local peasants turned their summer milk supplies into cheese, in order to last for the winter. After the cream is drained to make butter, Tomme de Savoie is produced from the leftover skimmed milk, which is why it has quite a low fat content (40%). After 2 to 4 months of maturing, its texture is pliable and firm and the flavor is nutty, grassy and rustic, with hints of mushroom and citrus. Pair it with sliced sausages, fruits such as pears, or medium-bodied red wines for the best experience.Expand

Fondue Savoyarde is one of the most popular dishes from the French region of Savoie, located in the heart of the French Alps. Originally a dish from Switzerland, fondue quickly rose to popularity in the Savoie region. The dish is made with a combination of melted cheeses, usually Gruyére, Beaufort, Emmental, and Comté. Savoie tradition says that if your piece of bread slides off the fork into the rich, hearty fondue, you must buy the next round of drinks, kiss the person next to you, or even run naked through the snow. After the dish has been communally shared and consumed, the fondue pot is crusted with toasted cheese, called la religieuse - providing some sort of a religious delight for true fondue afficionados.Expand

Saint-Marcellin is a cheese made from full-fat cow's milk in the French regions of Drôme, Isére and Savoie, and it is named after the town of the same name belonging to the Isére region. The cheese comes in two varieties - either dry or soft. Dry cheese is made according to the local tradition and has a firm texture, while the soft one is matured for a longer time to develop more intense aromas and a creamier texture. If the soft variety is left at room temperature, its rind is almost nonexistent. The taste is reminiscent of fruit and honey, milk, mushrooms and is slightly salty. Saint-Marcellin is best paired with dry white wines, baguettes, crackers or sliced, fresh fruit such as apples or persimmons.Expand

One of the best-loved dishes of the Alps, tartiflette is a mouth-watering gratinated potato dish from the mountainous region of Savoie in France. It is made with medium-sized potatoes, white wine, Reblochon cheese, onions, smoked salt pork (lardons fumés), and often crème fraîche. The dish is baked in the oven until the cheese browns and melts. The modern tartiflette was invented in the 1980s as a reimagining of an old gratinated potato, cheese, and onion dish called péla. It was created by the union of Reblochon cheesemakers in order to increase the cheese’s popularity. The dish instantly caught the attention of both professional cooks and the general public, and over time it became popular outside the French borders, most notably in Italy and Switzerland. Tartiflette is usually served piping hot, ideally with a green salad and a glass of French white wine on the side.Expand

Picodon is a small, round cheese made from goat's milk, with a minimum weight of 60 grams, produced in the Ardéche and Drôme regions in France. Its rind is thin, with yellow or white mold speckled with blue on the exterior. The maturation period is at least 14 days. On the inside, it is white or yellow, with a fine texture that becomes crumbly if it is matured for a longer period of time. Its flavor is fresh and clean, with a balance of salty and acidic notes, but it gets concentrated and sharp if it is matured longer, when the cheese loses half of its mass by drying out. Picodon is best eaten after a meal, paired with red or dry white wines, garlic and shallots.Expand

Abondance is a semi-cooked, pressed cheese made with unpasteurized milk from the Abondance, Montbéliarde, and Tarine cow breeds. Easily recognizable by the concave edge of its orange-brown rind, Abondance is much smaller than other similar cooked cheeses and must mature for at least 100 days. It has a very soft paste and melts in the mouth, while the flavor is slightly bitter, reminiscent of fresh lemons and warm spices. This cheese is best paired with a glass of dry white wine and it's typically served with apples and pickles, but it can also be used in fondues.Expand

Mons Fromager Affineur is a renowned family-owned company based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with roots dating back to the 1960s when it was founded by the Mons family. Today, it is led by Hervé Mons, a respected cheese expert and recipient of the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France title, who, together with his brother Laurent, continues the family’s legacy of excellence in the world of cheese. The company collaborates with over 130 local milk producers, fostering long-term, trust-based relationships grounded in quality, sustainability, and respect for geographical origin. Production takes place in two modern dairies that combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary hygiene and technological standards, with particular emphasis placed on preserving natural processes and authentic flavors. Their aging facilities are a vital part of flavor and texture development, where cheeses mature for months under constant care and supervision. Mons distributes its products to more than 30 countries, including the United States, Japan, Sweden, and Canada, establishing itself as a global ambassador of French cheesemaking artistry.Expand

Chocolaterie A. Morin is a family-run chocolate producer based in Donzère, France, established in 1884. The company specializes in bean-to-bar chocolate, processing cocoa beans directly into finished chocolate products. They source a diverse range of cocoa beans from various countries, including Peru, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, and are known for their meticulous approach to crafting unique chocolate flavors. A. Morin also emphasizes sustainable practices in their production processes.Expand

E. Guigal, established in 1946 by Étienne Guigal in Ampuis, France, is a renowned winery in the Rhône Valley. The estate is particularly celebrated for its Côte-Rôtie wines, notably the single-vineyard "La La's": La Mouline, La Landonne, and La Turque. Under the leadership of Marcel Guigal since 1961, and now his son Philippe, the family has expanded their holdings to include prestigious vineyards across the Rhône, including Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage. Their commitment to quality and traditional winemaking techniques has solidified E. Guigal's reputation as a producer of some of the world's finest wines. Expand

Fromagerie Coopérative de la Vallée des Arves, located in the mountain village of Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves in the Savoie region of France, was founded in 1965 by local farmers with the aim of organizing the collection and processing of milk from the surrounding villages. The cooperative is renowned for producing Beaufort AOP cheese, made exclusively from raw milk of Tarine and Abondance cows raised on alpine pastures. The cooperative offers free guided tours of its production facilities and aging cellars, where visitors can observe the cheesemaking process through glass walls and learn more about traditional cheesemaking techniques. Fromagerie Coopérative de la Vallée des Arves represents a perfect blend of tradition, quality, and dedication to preserving local agriculture and gastronomy, making it an essential destination for lovers of authentic French cheeses.Expand

Bonnat Chocolatier is a family-owned chocolate house from France, founded in 1884 in the town of Voiron, in the Isère region. Since then, through generations of the Bonnat family, the company has nurtured a tradition of fine chocolate craftsmanship, combining artisanal precision with innovations that have helped shape the modern world of chocolate. Today, under the leadership of Stéphane Bonnat, the house continues to explore and utilize rare cocoa varieties from Latin America, Asia, and Africa, working directly with producers and supporting sustainable agriculture. Their chocolates, such as "Selva Maya" from Mexico and "Cacao Real del Xoconuzco," have won numerous international awards, including honors from the International Chocolate Awards. Bonnat is renowned for its commitment to quality, using only pure cocoa butter without additives such as lecithin, and creating chocolates that highlight the pure flavors and characteristics of each origin. Their "Grands Crus" bars, with 75% cocoa content, represent the pinnacle of chocolate-making artistry, offering an authentic and refined tasting experience.Expand

Valrhona is a renowned French chocolate manufacturer celebrated for its commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability. As a pioneer in the chocolate industry, Valrhona has introduced unique flavors, such as Guanaja 70%, the first dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, and Dulcey, an innovative blond chocolate that added a new dimension to the chocolate world.​ The company stands out with its "bean-to-bar" philosophy, carefully selecting cocoa beans from various parts of the world to create chocolates that reflect authentic aromas and characteristics of their origin. This dedication to quality and transparency enables Valrhona to offer products that meet the highest standards in the industry.Expand

Bernachon is a family-run chocolate house from Lyon, founded in 1953 by Maurice Bernachon, and today stands as one of the most authentic representatives of French artisanal chocolaterie. What sets it apart is the fact that it is among the few producers that craft chocolate entirely bean-to-bar, meaning they control every stage from cocoa bean to finished product. Bernachon roasts, grinds, and refines its own cocoa beans, ensuring complete mastery over the quality and flavor profile of each batch. The brand has remained a family enterprise - now led by Philippe and Stéphanie Bernachon, the founder’s descendants - who continue the tradition of blending classic craftsmanship with contemporary creativity. The house holds the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, a recognition granted by the French government to brands that preserve exceptional traditional know-how. Their boutique in Lyon combines a workshop, pastry shop, and tasting salon, offering an immersive experience that goes beyond simply buying chocolate. Bernachon chocolates are renowned for their aromatic complexity - a fusion of rich cocoa tones, praliné fillings, and fruity notes, often adorned with touches of edible gold leaf. The assortment includes pralines, truffles, chocolate bars, candied fruits, and confections that blend classic French recipes with modern aesthetics. Bernachon remains faithful to the philosophy that chocolate is an art form - one that reflects the origin of every ingredient and the precision of the artisan’s hand. Their creations radiate warmth, authenticity, and refined luxury, making the brand one of the cornerstones of French haute chocolaterie.Expand

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a prestigious wine producer located in the village of Mauves, in the Saint-Joseph region, across the Rhône River from Hermitage - the source of their most renowned wines. The Chave family has been cultivating vines since 1481. Today, Jean-Louis Chave leads the estate, which encompasses 14.5 hectares in Hermitage, making them one of the largest landowners in the appellation. Their wines, including both red and white Hermitage, are crafted primarily from Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne grape varieties. These wines rank among the most esteemed in the Rhône Valley, consistently achieving high prices and exceptional ratings. The Chave family is renowned for their commitment to traditional winemaking techniques. They practice organic farming, prioritize low yields, harvest grapes at full ripeness, minimize the use of new oak, and avoid filtration, focusing on minimal intervention. Their goal is to produce wines that authentically express the noble terroir of Northern Rhône.Expand

Chocolats Pralus is a renowned chocolate brand celebrated for its exceptional quality and authentic bean-to-bar philosophy. With complete control over every stage of production - from the cultivation of carefully selected cacao varieties to the artisanal crafting of each bar - Pralus ensures a consistent and uncompromising standard of excellence. Their collection features outstanding single-origin chocolates that capture the unique character of each cacao origin, along with signature creations that combine rich flavors with refined craftsmanship. Known for bold, complex flavor profiles and high cacao content, Pralus chocolates are free from unnecessary additives, making them a favorite among true chocolate connoisseurs. The brand’s dedication to sustainability, authenticity, and artisanal precision has earned it a distinguished place in the world of fine chocolate.Expand

Prolactine France is a cheese producer based in Chambéry. The company specializes in the production and distribution of various types of French cheeses. They operate within the dairy industry, focusing on quality and traditional cheese-making methods. Expand