Saint-Marcellin

Stop 230 of 265 · France

One cheese on the loop, with something to drink beside it, something for the driver, and the road either side.

The cheese

Saint-Marcellin

  • cow milk
  • bloomy
Drink
Dry sparkling — Champagne or CremantBubbles and acidity scour the butterfat off the palate; a heavy red would be buried by the rind.
Driving
Sparkling apple juiceThe bubbles and acid are doing the work, and these have both.
Eat with
Fresh baguette, and a crisp appleBloomy rinds are rich and complete; good bread carries them and tart fruit resets the palate.

Derived from the milk and the style of the cheese, not from local custom. A local will have opinions.

Saint-Marcellin on Wikipedia

The road

Arriving fromGrenoble51 km (32 mi) by road, about 40 min driving.
On toVillard-de-Lans40 km (25 mi) by road, about 47 min driving. The road is 2.0× the straight line — an estuary, a pass or a lake is in the way.
Saint-MarcellinGrenobleVillard-de-Lans

Every cheese on the loop has a drink for the driver as well as one for the passengers. On a driving tour, somebody is always driving.