Croquis by Anne Brisse

Which Wines to Drink with Roquefort?

By Olivier Poussier

Roquefort, with its pronounced flavor, calls for a very specific style of wine. Discover the perfect match with Olivier Poussier, World’s Best Sommelier.

The pairings between Roquefort and wine are fascinating, as they can work with both white and red wines. Made from sheep’s milk, this cheese offers powerful salty, tangy, and creamy flavors. The wine must therefore be able to withstand the strength of Roquefort while harmoniously complementing its character.

Olivier Poussier, World’s Best Sommelier, recommends serving a wine with residual sugar in other words a moelleux or a liquoreux, to accompany Roquefort. Sweet fortified wines (vins doux naturels – VDN) also work beautifully. This applies not only to Roquefort but also to other blue-veined cheeses such as Bleu de Termignon or Fourme d’Ambert. However, to achieve a perfect pairing, the wine must be chosen according to the maturity of the cheese.

Wines with young Roquefort

With a young Roquefort, opt for a white vin doux naturel from Rivesaltes or Saint-Jean-de-Minervois. The vintage should be fairly recent and free from oxidative notes.
You may also choose a Sauternes or Barsac from Bordeaux, or a sweet late-harvest wine from Alsace (“Sélection de Grains Nobles”).

Wines with pronounced Roquefort

For more mature and intense Roquefort, red wines with sweetness are recommended. Again, a young VDN free of oxidative aromas is ideal, produced in appellations such as Maury, Rasteau, or Banyuls in the South of France. Port wines or sweet fortified wines from South Africa can also be considered, provided they are of the “rimage” or “vintage” type.

It should be noted that pairing Roquefort with dry red wines, especially those with firm tannins, is not recommended.

La Revue du Vin de France, October 2025