What is Deauville? Exploring Normandy’s Exquisite Cheese

Today, we’re journeying to the glamorous town of Deauville in Normandy. Famous for its horse racing, film festivals, and opulent casinos, Deauville is also home to a lesser-known yet exquisite culinary delight: Deauville cheese.

This square-shaped cheese, often overshadowed by its more famous cousin, Camembert, is a testament to Normandy’s dairy prowess. Made from the milk of cows grazing on the lush pastures of the Calvados department, Deauville cheese is a hidden gem in the vast landscape of French cheeses.

Quick Facts About Deauville

What is Deauville?

Deauville cheese, a little-known yet delightful creation from Normandy, carries the namesake of the glamorous French town of Deauville. This square-shaped cheese is part of the Pont L’évêque family, a group of cheeses that have been made around this region for centuries. With its unique attributes, Deauville cheese stands as a testament to the rich dairy heritage of Normandy.

This cheese is intriguingly complex and unique, combining attributes from two renowned washed-rind cheeses in Normandy: Pont-l’Évêque and Livarot. The result is a cheese that is incredibly distinctive, marrying the best qualities of its predecessors. While it may not be as famous as Camembert, another Norman cheese, Deauville holds its own with its strong, distinctive flavor.

Produced by “Les Fromagers de Tradition” in the village of Boissey, in the Calvados department, Deauville cheese is a soft cheese with a bloomy rind. It’s not just the coastal town that lends its name to this cheese; the fromagerie de la Houssaye also plays a significant role in its production.

Whether enjoyed on its own or as part of a cheese board featuring other Norman delights like Camembert, Pont-l’Évêque, and Livarot, Deauville cheese offers a slice of Normandy’s gastronomic tradition. It’s an undiscovered gem that invites cheese lovers to explore the lesser-known corners of France’s cheese map.

Deauville Tasting Notes

• Deauville cheese has a brown-orange, thin-moist rind that cracks with age
• It possesses rich and natural flowery qualities, a characteristic influenced by the grazing habits of the cows whose milk is used in its production
• The cheese offers a complex flavor profile that blends the best attributes of Pont-l’Évêque and Livarot, two renowned washed-rind cheeses from Normandy
• It has a strong, distinctive taste that holds its own against other popular Norman cheeses like Camembert
• As a soft cheese with a bloomy rind, Deauville provides a unique texture that enhances its overall taste experience
• The cheese is produced in the Calvados department, a region known for its high-quality dairy products

What Pairs Well With Deauville?

• Wine: A full-bodied white wine like Chardonnay or a light-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir can complement the strong flavors of Deauville. The tannins in red wine can balance the creamy texture of the cheese, while the citrus notes in white wines can cut through its richness.
• Bread: Crusty French bread or rustic whole-grain loaves provide a delightful contrast to the soft texture of Deauville
• Fruits: Apples, pears, and grapes are classic pairings for cheese. Their natural sweetness and slight acidity balance the robust flavor of Deauville
• Charcuterie: Smoked meats like ham or salami can complement the savory notes in Deauville
• Condiments: Honey, fig jam, or caramelized onions can add an extra layer of complexity to Deauville, enhancing its inherent flavors
• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, or pecans can provide a crunchy texture and nutty flavor that pairs well with this cheese

More Cheeses from France:

• Abbaye de Cîteaux
• Abbaye du Mont des Cats
• Abbaye de la Pierre-qui-Vire
• Abbaye de Tamié
• Bleu de Termignon