Raclette

A source of pleasure and conviviality

According to legend, Léon was the name of the Valais wine-grower who invented Raclette cheese. On a cold day, he warmed up a piece of cheese over an open log fire, rather than eating it raw, and this quintessential Valais delicacy was born.
The presence of cheese in Valais has been documented since the 4th century BC. Alpine cheese was famous during the Roman period. Later on, it was often used as a means of payment, in lieu of wages to workers or as an export product. Cheese melting has been known in Valais as far back as the year 1574. The term ‘Raclette‘ comes from the local French dialect (racler = to scrape), and it became the official name for this cheese in 1874.
To this day, Valais cheese makers follow a recipe which has been passed down for generations, taking raw milk and making into the best and most authentic product which Valais has to offer: Raclette du Valais AOP.

  • Facts and figures

    A wheel of Raclette

    A wheel of Raclette weighs about 5 kg and has a diameter of 30 cm

  • Facts and figures

    Raclette AOP

    The name “Raclette du Valais” has been registered as an AOP product since 2007

  • Facts and figures

    The natural milk used to make Raclette du Valais cheese AOP

    comes from cows of the Herens, Brown Swiss, Simmental, Holstein and Red Holstein breeds

  • Facts and figures

    Aging period:

    3 to 6 months

  • Facts and figures

    Raclette cheese

    The cheese has been known officially as “Raclette” since 1874

  • Facts and figures

    Health benefits

    Lactose-free, Gluten-free, High in: Protein (contains more than fish or meat), Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Omega-3

Key facts

  • Season: all year

  • Composition: Raclette du Valais is a semi-hard cheese from the mountains, made from full-fat untreated cow’s milk

  • Storage: in a cool place, away from the light. Keeps 6-8 months

  • Area of origin: the milk is produced and the cheese is made only in Valais, in a dairy or at a farm on the alpine pastures

  • Appearance, taste/flavour: the wheels are round and show the region of origin stamped on the side. The alpine plants on which the cattle feed impart their flavour to the Raclette, so the taste of the cheese varies depending on where the cows graze. A fresh taste (like fresh butter or cream) with a slightly acid tang dominates the floral and fruity notes in Raclette du Valais. In other forms of Raclette to be eaten sliced, a salty, slightly milky flavour with a mildly acid tang dominates the floral and fruity notes.

Criteria for the AOP label

  • Raclette du Valais is made with untreated cow’s milk.
  • None of the milk may be stored for more than 24 hours before it is curdled.
  • The cheese is made in traditional cheese dairies.
  • The milk is produced, and the cheese made and matured, exclusively in the canton of Valais – with the exception of the alpine pastures of Spittelmatten, located in the municipality of Kandersteg (canton Bern).
  • Quality is checked regularly by experts.
  • The only permitted ingredients are milk, water, salt, rennet, starter cultures and cheese smear.

Did you know…

  • People in Valais talk both of “la raclette” and “le raclette”. “La raclette” refers to the dish based on melted cheese; the cheese itself is known as “le raclette”.
  • The side of the wheel of cheese shows its origin, stamped in the crust: for example, Bagnes, Gomser, Wallis 65, etc. It is therefore possible to verify at any time where and when the cheese was made.
  • Raclette cheese melts at a temperature of 40°C.
  • The first evidence of the presence of cheese in Valais dates from the 4th Century BC. During the Roman era, it was used as a means of payment.
  • The practice of serving cheese melted in Valais dates at least to 1574.
  • Raclette is lactose- and gluten-free.

How to enjoy

Raclette can be enjoyed sliced, as part of an “Assiette valaisanne” (“Valais platter”) or to accompany a “brisolée” (roast chestnuts served with cold meat and cheeses). But it is in melted form that the cheese has won fame. Accompanied by boiled unskinned potatoes, silverskin onions and small pickled gherkins, a Raclette is a delicacy best shared with friends or family. Purists prefer the wheel of cheese to be heated by a wood fire, but Raclette grills for half-wheels of cheese and electric Raclette grills (also called “raclonettes”) allow devotees to enjoy the dish at home.

The ideal accompaniment to a Raclette: a glass of white Fendant wine from Valais.

Recipes with Raclette du Valais AOP