Fromagerie La Mère Richard
Founded in 1965 by Renée Richard, known as La Mère Richard, and at the Halles since 1971. Its page names Saint-Marcellin and Saint-Félicien as specialities and Paul Bocuse among the clients who built its name.
About Rigotte de Condrieu
A tiny disc of whole raw goat's milk from the Pilat hills, 4.2 to 5 cm across and 1.9 to 2.4 cm high, about 35 g. INAO says it can be sold from 8 days old and should not be eaten too dry, and that its fine surface flora can be ivory, white or blue. It became an AOC by Décret 2009-49 of 13 January 2009 and an EU AOP in 2013, and French Wikipedia lists it on the Lyon cheese board. INAO adds that Condrieu was its main market in the 19th century and that the name probably comes from rigol or rigot, small streams.
Made in: 48 communes of the Loire and Rhône on the Pilat massif, south-west of Lyon
On the plate
Firm, smooth paste that melts in the mouth, with hazelnut, forest floor and whey aromas, according to INAO. Le Guide du Fromage calls it moderately salted, and French Wikipedia puts the best eating from May to August.
Rind: natural crust
Wine and cheese
What to pour with Rigotte de Condrieu
Condrieu Rhone Valley
Our pickINAO says the cheese goes particularly well with the white wines of the neighbouring Condrieu appellation, and the two appellations share a festival every 1 May. Viognier's floral richness meets the firm, smooth paste with its hazelnut and forest-floor notes.
Saint-Joseph blanc Rhone Valley
Our pickA dry, full Marsanne-Roussanne white from the Saint-Joseph slopes across the river, less perfumed than Condrieu. It leaves room for the hazelnut, forest-floor and whey notes INAO lists for the cheese, and its weight matches the firm, smooth paste.
Beaujolais Blanc Beaujolais
Our pickINAO's own match is the white wine of the neighbouring Condrieu AOP, which is not a Beaujolais wine. For a Beaujolais glass, a crisp, high-acid Beaujolais Blanc suits the hazelnut and whey notes of a small goat's cheese.
The grapes behind these winesViognierChardonnayMarsanne
From the source
Where to buy and taste it
La Chazère
Valence fromagerie with two shops, selling farmhouse raw-milk cheeses and running cheese tastings from June to September by registration in the shop. Named a Saint-Marcellin IGP ambassador by the consortium.
Maison Cellerier (Halles de Lyon)
The cheese counter of a Lyon house founded in 1890, now in its fourth generation by its own count. Its page for the Halles shop cites more than 350 cheeses, alongside charcuterie and a traiteur.
Fromagerie Mons Villefranche
Shop of the Mons house of affineurs on the rue Nationale, selling cheeses selected and aged by Hervé Mons, among them the local Bleu du Passeloup.
Cheese experiences nearby
Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse
Lyon's covered food market, whose own pages list four cheese counters: Beillevaire, Mons, La Mère Richard and Cellerier, and say Paul Bocuse bought supplies here for his restaurants.
Terra Cabra: Picodon ageing rooms and goat-cheese exhibition
A 200 m2 museum route on goat farming, milking and Picodon making, with films, educational workshops, fact sheets and the ageing rooms, above the Peytot ageing workshop. Individual tasting is free per the Ardèche Guide listing.
Fête du Picodon, Saoû
Two-day Picodon festival in Saoû on the third weekend of July, as the organisers put it; the 2026 edition was held in July. The Picodon syndicate also lists a Picodon festival in Dieulefit in August.
Guided visit and tasting at GAEC des Baratons
Guided visit of a goat dairy making Picodon AOP, with a free tasting; guided visits are compulsory for individuals and groups. Group rates start at 20 people, and groups can be up to 55.
Cheese tastings at La Chazère, Valence
Tastings of local cheeses at the Valence fromagerie from June to September, with registration at the shop.
Marché couvert de Villefranche-sur-Saône
The covered market of Villefranche-sur-Saône, a listed 1930s building reopened in December 2025 after a year of renovation. Rhône Tourisme lists cheesemongers among its traders.
Rigotte de Condrieu: questions
Which wine does INAO suggest?
INAO says it goes particularly well with the white wines of the neighbouring Condrieu AOP, and that the two appellations hold a joint festival every 1 May.
How big is a Rigotte de Condrieu?
4.2 to 5 cm across and 1.9 to 2.4 cm high, about 35 g, according to Le Guide du Fromage; INAO gives a minimum weight of 30 g.
Is it a Lyon cheese?
It comes from the Pilat massif south-west of Lyon, and French Wikipedia's article on Lyon cuisine lists the rigotte (Condrieu and Pélussin) on the Lyon cheese board.
Same cheeseboard
More cheeses from Beaujolais
Plan the trip
Visit Rigotte de Condrieu country
Tastings and tours where it is made, and somewhere to stay.
Beaujolais
Le Hameau Duboeuf: The 1st Vine and Wine Theme Park Tour
All 61 experiences in Beaujolais
Booking links go to our partners (GetYourGuide, Viator, Zen Hotels), who may pay us a commission. It never decides what we cover. Editorial standards.
Sources: protection register, www.inao.gouv.fr, www.leguidedufromage.com. The drawing is made from the cheese's recorded shape, rind and paste, not a photograph.
Beaujolais wine guide → Rhone Valley wine guide → Every cheese →