Can’t go wrong with the classics: Camembert and Cider, a match made in Normandy

Cheese lends itself to both classic and surprising combinations: Cheddar and crisp, tart MacIntosh apples, brie and plump red grapes, Manchego and a perfectly ripe watermelon. Some of these pairings have been taste-tested into being, and others developed as natural geographic partners — when cheesemakers got down to work in a climate that supported a certain type of fruit tree, or near a particular wine region. Whatever the genesis, if it tastes good, we say by all means eat it, but there’s a special place in cheese-loving hearts for those legacy pairings that have stood the test of time. One such combination is Camembert and cider. Both these distinctive treasures come from Normandy, a region of France and the British Channel Islands, with a rich history that includes moments of culinary greatness. Camembert, an 18th-century innovation in cheese which hails from Northwest France and is known for its edible rind, distinctive aroma, and earthy taste, calls for a libation that can live up to all that personality. And the folks who first ate it likely did so accompanied by another Normandy specialty: cider. Apples have been used in this region since before Charlemagne to create libations that range from light and sweet to tangy and dry, and modern-day Normans understand that forefathers knew best — they still pair up Camembert with cider to this day. (If cider’s not your thing, try Calvados, another apple-forward, Normandy-based beverage; it’ll set off your Camembert just as classically and maybe even more enticingly.)

Looking for a versatile Camembert-style cheese that lends itself well to pairings, recipes, and picky palates? Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery’s St. Saviour, named after a parish on the Normandy-influenced island of Guernsey, is a great option. Its creamy interior, combined with that classic Camembert-inspired rind, has garnered international attention and honors from the World Cheese and International Cheese and Dairy competitions.