The cheeses made in and around Bordeaux: the protected names first, then the local cheeses people actually eat, with their milk, rind, ageing and taste.

The cheeses of Bordeaux

Ossau-Iraty

AOP, first protected 1980Sheep milk, bothSemi, hardNatural rind

A pressed, uncooked sheep's milk cheese made in the Basque Country and Béarn, not in the Gironde; Bordeaux Tourisme names it as the specialty of the two Beillevaire cheese shops in Bordeaux. The milk comes from local Basco-béarnaise, Manech tête rousse and Manech tête noire ewes. Farms use the raw milk of their own flock, dairies raw or thermised milk from many flocks. Each wheel is stamped with a ewe's head, in profile for dairy cheeses and face on for farm cheeses. It has been an AOC since 1980 and an AOP since 1996. The small wheels weigh 2 to 3 kg, measure 18 to 20 cm across and 7 to 10 cm high; the large farm wheels weigh 4 to 7 kg.

Taste: INAO describes a hard rind, yellow-orange to grey, and a pale paste that is firm and melting. The balance sits between fat and acidity, salted without excess, with hazelnut often present and a floral or fruity nose.

Ageing: At least 80 days for the 2 to 3 kg wheels and 120 days for the 4 to 7 kg ones

Made in: The Basque Country and Béarn

The full story →

Which local wines to drink with them →

Book wine experiences in Bordeaux

See all 718 bookable experiences in Bordeaux

Cheeses in Bordeaux, FAQ

How long is Ossau-Iraty aged?

Le Guide du Fromage gives a minimum of 80 to 120 days, and the French Wikipedia article on the cheese says at least 80 days for wheels of 2 to 3 kg and 120 days for those of 4 to 7 kg.

What is the ewe's head stamped on the rind?

INAO says each cheese is marked when it is made, either pressed into the rind or with a casein plate, with a ewe's head: in profile for dairy cheeses and face on for farm cheeses.

Which wine does the Ossau-Iraty syndicate suggest?

Structured reds and full whites of the South-West (Madiran, Béarn-Belloq, Jurançon, Irouléguy) or of the Languedoc, according to the cheese's defence syndicate. The Bordeaux pairings on this site are our own suggestions, not a local tradition.

Is Ossau-Iraty made near Bordeaux?

No. INAO places production in the Basque Country and Béarn. In Bordeaux it is sold, not made: Bordeaux Tourisme names it as the specialty of the Beillevaire shops.

← Back to Bordeaux wine guide