Creamy cheese, sweet figs and crunchy walnuts – the perfect wine pairing
Baked camembert is a real treat for cheese lovers – crispy on the outside, deliciously creamy on the inside. The combination with caramelised figs, crunchy walnuts and a hint of honey creates a harmonious interplay of sweet, nutty and savoury flavours. But which wine goes best with this dish? A mature Chenin Blanc from the Loire provides just the right balance between fruity freshness and subtle honey sweetness to perfectly complement the Camembert and its accompaniments.
Which wines go best with this meal?
The melted Camembert brings a rich, buttery creaminess with slightly nutty and earthy notes, which are given a fruity-sweet component by the figs and honey. The ideal wine should therefore have enough freshness and acidity to balance out the creaminess, but also have a subtle fruity note to blend harmoniously into the flavour.
1. matured Chenin Blanc from the Loire (main recommendation)
➡ Why? A mature Chenin Blanc from the Loire impresses with aromas of quince, honey, dried apricots and almonds, which harmonise wonderfully with the melted cheese, figs and walnuts. Its fine acidity perfectly balances the creamy texture of the Camembert. ✔ Recommended region: Loire, France
2. white Burgundy from Germany or France
➡ Why? The subtle fruitiness and elegant acidity of a Pinot Blanc emphasise the fine aromas of cheese and figs without being too dominant. ✔ Recommended region: Burgundy, France or Palatinate, Germany
3. pinot noir from Alsace
➡ Why? If a red wine is preferred, a light Pinot Noir with soft red fruit flavours and fine acidity is a wonderful alternative, as it elegantly balances the sweetness of the figs and the creaminess of the Camembert. ✔ Recommended region: Alsace, France
The recipe:
Baked camembert with figs and walnuts
Cooking utensils
- 1 Oven or airfryer
- 1 Baking tray or small ovenproof dish
- 1 Knife & chopping board
- 1 Small spoon for drizzling with honey
Ingredients
- 1 Camembert 250 g, preferably French raw milk cheese
- 2 fresh figs cut into quarters
- 1 Handful of walnuts roughly chopped
- 1 Tbsp honey
- ½ teaspoon fresh rosemary finely chopped
- 1 Pinch of sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper Freshly ground
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Preparation
Prepare & bake the Camembert:
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C (top/bottom heat) or 160 °C (fan-assisted).
- Place the Camembert in an ovenproof dish or on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
- Lightly score the surface with a knife so that it melts evenly during baking.
- Spread the figs and walnuts evenly over the Camembert.
- Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with rosemary, sea salt and pepper.
- Bake the Camembert for 12-15 minutes until the surface is golden brown and the cheese inside has melted.
Serve:
- Serve the hot Camembert straight from the oven.
- Enjoy with crusty baguette or crackers.
Recommended side dishes
- Fresh baguette or crispy crostini
- A crunchy rocket salad with lemon dressing
- Pickled figs or fig jam for even more fruitiness
