Arnaud Fromagerie is one of the finest and most influential affineurs of Comté. They are the only dairy in France to be awarded the Grand Prix d’Excellence by the Concours Général de Paris for consistently producing exceptional cheese. For over 100 years and three generations, the Arnaud family has traditionally matured cheeses at Fort des Rousses, 1150m high up in the mountains of Poligny, Jura. The Fort originally was built by Napolean over 200 years ago was converted into a purpose built cheese maturing facility by the Arnaud family in 1995.

It takes 530 litres, or the milk of 30 cows, to make one wheel of Comté. Only two breeds are permitted to be milked, the local Montbéliarde breed and Simmental. Herds are small, under 15 cows, so the farmers of La Franche-Comté have traditionally formed cooperative dairies or fruitières. They sell their cheeses to affineurs who mature the cheeses. This is a monumental effort, in which the rinds are cleaned and the cheeses turned regularly to ensure even ripening. Dense in texture and complex in flavour and aroma, each individual wheel of Comté shows a unique set of nuances depending on the season. Every cheese exhibits the intense nuttiness, buttery flavour and smooth finish that are the hallmark of quality Comté.