Beaufort des Arves: the cooperative dairy to stock up on cheese

This is the essential stop for anyone who wants to take something home from the Maurienne — or simply to eat well while they are here. The Arves valley cooperative dairy makes a genuinely good Beaufort AOP, and it has a shop in Albiez-Montrond.

Who makes the cheese

The cooperative is based at Belluard, in Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves, on the far side of the massif. It collects milk from farms across the Arves valley and turns it into cheese on site.

Beaufort AOP is made from raw, whole milk, collected from high pastures reaching up to 2,500 metres, then matured for 6 to 12 months in cool, humid cellars. The appellation is fifty years old, and the dairy holds a gold medal from the Paris agricultural show.

Summer or winter Beaufort: not the same cheese

This is the thing worth knowing before you reach the counter. Beaufort comes in two seasonal versions, depending on when the milk was collected:

• Summer Beaufort comes from high-pasture milk, when the cows graze at altitude on a very varied flora. It is deeper in colour, more aromatic, more complex.
• Winter Beaufort comes from milk produced down in the valley. It is milder and more consistent.

Neither is "better" in absolute terms: the first is for eating as it is, the second works very well in cooking. Ask for both at the counter — they will let you taste them.

What else they sell

The shop does not stop at Beaufort. On the cheese side:

• Raclette de Savoie IGP, including a smoked version ("Brezain") and one with wild garlic
• Grated fondue blend, 100 % Beaufort AOP — the ready-made mix, which saves you balancing three cheeses yourself
• Tome des Bauges AOP and dairy Reblochon AOP
• Beurre des Arves butter

Add charcuterie, jams and honey, and you can put together a full board without going anywhere else.

Why it matters when you are staying in Albiez

The apartment comes with a raclette grill, a fondue set, a pierrade stone and a crêpe maker. In other words, everything needed to turn a trip to the cooperative into that evening's dinner — and it is a long way better than a supermarket pack.

The logic of the stay becomes simple: everyday food shopping at the Sherpa on the snow front or the Carrefour Market in Saint-Jean, and cheese at the cooperative.

Where to buy it

The cooperative runs eight shops across the region, two of them directly useful from Albiez:

• Albiez-Montrond — the closest, without leaving the commune.
• Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne — on the way, to combine with the big shop on your way up or down.

The other six are at Saint-Sorlin-d'Arves (at the dairy itself), Le Corbier, La Toussuire, Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, Valloire and the Col du Galibier — handy if you are passing through on a cycling day.

Having it delivered after your stay

The cooperative ships within mainland France (Corsica excluded). Orders are processed on Mondays and shipments leave by Chronofresh from Tuesday. Shipping is free above €100.

It is the way to extend the holiday without overloading the boot — or to restock in December.