Crémant d’Alsace, Champagne’s Lesser-Known Cousin

Last year Crémant d’Alsace French sparkling wine turned 40 years old, with it being first officially recognised under French law in August 1976.

However, the winemaking tradition goes way further back in this region and today it’s France’s most prolific sparkling wine appellation besides Champagne.

Alsace is located southeast of the Champagne region and borders Germany. You can find the beautiful city of Strasbourg in this region, known for its colourful architecture, canals, museums and art. It’s a stunning and historical region to explore for culture-seekers, with amazing sparkling wine to boot.

So, is what is special about Crémant d’Aslace?

While Champagne has the spotlight, this Crémant is hot on its toes. They are both made with the traditional method and arguably many of their wines are on par with regards to quality.

There are strict rules surrounding this method, including second fermentation in the bottle as opposed to steel tanks, which ensure a higher quality bubbly.

Crémant d’Alsace is characterised by it’s more rounded flavours which allow the wines to have less added sugar. This is thanks to the region’s drier and warmer weather in comparison with Champagne.

Crémant Alsace shares some popular grape varieties with Champagne, as do many sparkling wine producers, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. However, Crémant also often uses Pinot Blanc as a dominant grape.

Cremant d’Alsace has a light, subtle flavour with hints of fresh fruits and flowers. It can be enjoyed as an apéritif or pairs well with food, including, seafood, poultry, cheese and desserts.

Try a Crémant d’Alsace next time – the label might not be as recognisable, but you can be confident of the taste and at a cheaper price!

Try:
Aldi Crémant d’Alsace AOC Blanc de Blancs
Mayerling Brut Crémant d’Alsace
Dopff au Moulin Cremant d’Alsace Cuvee Julien Brut