Crémant

Crémant is a French sparkling wine made using the traditional bottle-fermentation method outside the Champagne region. Styles vary depending on where it’s made, but expect crisp citrus, apple and pear with floral, almond and subtle brioche notes. Fresh and seriously food-friendly, it’s brilliant with seafood, sushi, fried food, charcuterie, canapés and soft cheese.

Taste:

French bubbles without the Champagne postcode.

Crémant is typically dry and light to medium-bodied, with fresh acidity and fine bubbles. Expect lemon, green apple and pear, often joined by white flowers and subtle mineral notes.

Because the second fermentation happens inside the bottle, ageing on the lees can add flavours of bread, biscuit, brioche and nuts.

Exactly what it tastes like depends on where it comes from and which grapes are used. Crémant d'Alsace, Crémant de Loire and Crémant de Bourgogne can all have noticeably different personalities.

Same production method. Different regions. Considerably more options.

Food Pairings:

Crémant is one of those wines that can happily stick around from the first canapé to dinner.

For seafood, try oysters, prawns, crab, scallops, mussels, smoked salmon or grilled fish. Sushi and sashimi work beautifully too.

The bubbles and acidity make fried food an excellent match, including tempura, calamari, fried chicken and fish and chips.

It's also brilliant with charcuterie, pâté, canapés, salted nuts and sharing plates.

For something more substantial, richer styles can handle roast chicken, mushroom dishes, creamy pasta and risotto.

On the cheese board, try Brie, Camembert, goat's cheese, Comté or other creamy and nutty styles.

Basically, Crémant has excellent social stamina.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Crémant, Champagne is the obvious next stop for France's most famous traditional-method sparkling wine.

English Sparkling Wine often uses the same principal grapes as Champagne, while Franciacorta offers a prestigious Italian take on bottle-fermented bubbles.

Cava is another great option if crisp acidity, fine bubbles and savoury lees-aged flavours are what you love most.

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More About Crémant:

Crémant isn't one single regional wine. The name is used for traditional-method sparkling wines from several French appellations outside Champagne.

You'll come across names including Crémant d'Alsace, Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Limoux and others.

Each region uses its own permitted grape varieties, which means the style can change considerably. Crémant de Bourgogne might feature Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, for example, while Crémant de Loire can include Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

What unites them is the traditional method, with the second fermentation taking place inside the bottle followed by ageing on the lees.

Essentially, France has bubbles in multiple departments.

Champagne just has the best PR.