Vacherin Mont d'Or

1. History

Vacherin Mont-d'Or has very ancient origins, with the first written traces dating back to 1280 mentioning a cheese surrounded by a strap. The word "vacherin" designates the cheese of vachers, the herdsmen. Originally, this cheese was produced by farmers during winter when milk production decreased, making it impossible to manufacture large wheels of Comté or Gruyère. The cheese gained commercial reputation from 1865 with the founding of the Société de Laiterie des Charbonnières, winning prizes at Swiss national exhibitions between 1876 and 1883.

2. Physical characteristics

Vacherin Mont-d'Or is a soft cheese with a washed rind, characterized by often runny consistency. It is distinctive for its spruce strap (sapwood) surrounding it and its box made from spruce bark from the region. The cheese is bound with this spruce strap after curd molding and pressing, then immersed in a brine bath for two to four hours.

3. Taste profile

Vacherin Mont-d'Or offers a slightly salty flavor with characteristic whey taste. The distinctive gustatory notes come from the spruce wood strap surrounding it, giving the cheese a unique aromatic signature. Its runny and creamy paste makes it a particularly appreciated cheese for its rich texture and delicate organoleptic qualities.

4. Production zone and period

Swiss Vacherin Mont-d'Or is produced from September to March in the canton of Vaud, in the heart of the Jura massif. French Mont-d'Or (also called Vacherin du Haut-Doubs) is manufactured in part of the Doubs department, at over 700 meters altitude, and is available for sale from mid-September to mid-May. Production exclusively uses milk from Montbéliarde and Simmental cows for the French version, while milk is thermized for the Swiss version to prevent pathogenic germs.

5. Certification

French Mont d'Or received Protected Designation of Origin (PDO/AOP) status in 1981 as AOC, then in 1996 as AOP. Swiss Vacherin Mont-d'Or also benefits from AOP protection. The first written trace of the "Vacherin Mont-d'Or" appellation dates from the early 19th century, in the law of June 6, 1812 on taxes.