Why Crémant May Be France's Best-Kept Sparkling Wine Secret
- Under The Grapevine
- Oct 8, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 6
An indispensable sparkling element at every luxurious party, the drink of royals and famous artists oh and James Bond loved a bottle or two. As soon as you mention the words bubbles, sparkling wine or fizz, almost everyone immediately thinks of champagne. Although by many considered as the fizz of fizzes ( is that a word? ) there are so many more great quality alternatives that every sparkling wine lover should try at least once.
One beautiful sparkling alternative from the same country as where Champagne comes from is Cremant. This sparkling wine is made outside of the Champagne region and is therefore not allowed to carry its cousin’s name. It is indeed a very interesting alternative because it offers a similar quality of deliciousness at only a fraction of the price. This French alternative for Champagne is the next best thing for savvy drinkers who want quality sparkling wine at less than 30 euro per bottle.
The beauty of regional character
But what is Cremant exactly, where does it come from and why is it becoming more and more popular? Cremant is a French sparkling wine that is made outside the Champagne producing area. Although this French sparkling wine is from another region it does go through the same “methode traditionelle” production process as Champagne. It is a process in which the secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle instead of in a large stainless steel vat or tank, like with Prosecco. This secondary fermentation process gives Cremant its character, forming a rich creamier texture. Because of this Cremant has a taste profile similar to Champagne. Yes there will be experts that will exactly taste where their bubbles come from but let’s be honest, apart from our wallet, 99% of us wine drinkers will not be able to tell the difference.
There are eight regions in France that are currently producing Cremant. If you think these are some hidden obscure French rural regions then you are quite mistaken. They include prominent regions such as Burgundy, Alsace, the Loire Valley and the famous region of Bordeaux. One of the most popular Cremant producing wine regions is Cremant d’Alsace, known for its rich and complex character and its use of a wide variety of grapes.
The rules and regulations for making Cremant allow winemakers to use a wider variety of grapes. As an example, Cremant d’Alsace is made from six different grape varieties including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, and Chardonnay. Champagne on the other hand is made from only three. So, if you’re asking What is Cremant? Well looking at all the different regions and grape varieties It could actually be a lot of things. And that’s not even taken into account that all these different regions also have different micro climates which all give their local Cremant its own specific flavors and aromas. Take Cremant de Loire from the Loire Valley for example. This area uses primarily Chenin Blanc as the base grape for their style of Cremant which is different to Cremant from Alsace with its multitude of grape varieties. So If you try Cremant from each of the different regions you will notice subtle differences in taste.
Outstanding quality without the Champagne price
Perhaps the greatest surprise for many people is just how good Crémant has become. Because these wines don't carry the prestige, or the price tag, of Champagne, many producers focus simply on making the best wine they can. The result is a category that consistently offers outstanding value. It is one of the reasons I so often recommend Crémant to customers looking for a bottle that feels special without stretching the budget.
Champagne will always be the absolute king of sparkling wine. However, Cremant is slowly becoming more and more popular amongst sparkling wine lovers. And who can blame them. Similar to Champagne in style and quality but at half the price! Next time you are looking for some sparkling wine give it a try.
Our Recommendation
One of the Cremants we return to time and time again is the Gustave Lorentz Crémant d'Alsace. Produced by one of Alsace's most respected family estates, it perfectly captures everything we enjoy about Crémant: delicate bubbles, vibrant freshness and a refined, elegant finish. It is equally at home as an aperitif or alongside seafood, poultry and lighter dishes. For me, it is proof that some of France's most exciting sparkling wines are found well beyond Champagne.
Continue your Sparkling Wine journey
If you've enjoyed discovering Crémant, you may also like our Sparkling Wine Guide with interesting facts about the different sparkling wines, recipes that pair well with them and our personal recommendations.
Comments