If you’re looking for a Champagne-style sparkling wine without the Champagne price tag, we’d like to direct your attention to one of France’s hidden gems: Crémant!
What is Crémant?
“Crémant” is a category of French sparkling wines that are made using the same traditional method as Champagne, but come from a region outside of the Champagne region. The word originates from the French word ‘cremeux’ – meaning ‘creamy – and with a minimum requirement of 9 months on lees, these sparkling wines are just that.
There are 8 appellations in France that make Crémant wines: Alsace, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Die, Jura, Limoux, Loire, and Savoie. The wines produced from these regions are all made using The Traditional Method, Méthode Traditionnelle, in which the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, releasing CO2 into the wine. All grapes must be hand harvested and only whole grape bunches are allowed in the winemaking process. Vineyard owners must specify at the beginning of the season which vines will be used to produce Crémant wines. These strict regulations ensure the utmost quality sparkling wine you can find outside of Champagne itself.
How does Crémant differ from Champagne?
Although they are made in the same way, Crémant wines typically produce a wider range of styles and expressions due to the different growing regions (terriors) and grape varietals used. In the designated Champagne appellation, the only grapes allowed are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and the minimum lees aging requirement is 12 months. While nothing can rival the longevity and complexity of Champagne, many Crémant wines have the ability to age if stored in the proper conditions.
How does Crémant differ from Prosecco?
While Crémant and Champagne are produced using the traditional method, Prosecco is made using the tank method. Utilizing large pressurized stainless steel tanks for secondary fermentation, this method is used to produce a less expensive wine that is generally fresh, fruit forward and less complex than sparkling wines made from the traditional method. There is typically no lees aging in Prosecco production, and therefore you will not find any autolytic notes in these wines. Also, Prosecco is made only from the Glera grape.
Crémant d’Alsace
Tucked into the foothills of the Vosges Mountains in Northeast France is the delightful and charming region of Alsace. Thanks to the protection of the mountains, the climate here is dry and sunny, leading to long growing seasons. In this environment, grapes are able to achieve optimal ripeness, resulting in wines that require little to no dosage (sugar added before bottling).
In Alsace, the main grape used in Crémant wines is Pinot Blanc. Its neutral flavor is the perfect base for these delicious sparkling wines that tend to be lighter in body but have high acid which is essential when making sparkling wine. More than half of all Crémant from France is produced in the quaint region of Alsace and the quality is unmatched. It’s no wonder we looked to Alsace for our Lot 228 Crémant d’Alsace!
90+ Cellars Lot 228 Crémant d’Alsace
Lot 228 is made with a blend of grapes, primarily featuring Pinot Blanc, but also including a small amount of Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. The wine is made at a family winery, in the town of Dambach-la-Ville, that has been in production since 1775. Legend has it that a bear came out of the woods near the village to show the people that the sweet grapes were in fact edible. The bear legend lives on and has become somewhat of a mascot for the small village. Talk about being the perfect inspiration for our own label!
Bursting with beautiful stone fruits, lingering citrus notes, and a hint of biscuit, this a delectably quaffable wine for your next gathering. For those looking for a wine similar in style to Champagne, without the hefty price tag, Lot 228 is the perfect choice.
This article was written by 90+ Cellars International Wine Buyer, Alex Shaughnessy.