Summer is a great time for a lovely glass of bubbly, says Dominic Hewett of Birmingham Wine School
For me there is something uplifting about tearing the foil, loosening the wire cage, then easing out the mushroom-shaped cork. Let the cork fly and you get a better pop, but please don’t point the bottle at your guests ¬– the cork leaves the bottle at about 40mph!
In the modern world of wine, you are spoilt for choice. There is Italian Prosecco, Spanish Cava, English Fizz and great new world options from places like South Africa and Australia. Of course, this leaves out one country that really knows what it is doing when it comes to making sparkling wines and that is France. Champagne, which is arguably the most famous fizz of all, is produced in huge amounts and is enjoyed all over the world. However, most Champagne is an expensive option so if you are looking for something less demanding on your pocket then look no further than Cremant.
LIGHTER
Cremant is a regional sparkling wine that is produced across no less than eight wine regions in France. It is bottle fermented in a very similar way to Champagne but with a couple of important differences. Firstly, the grapes used to make it vary depending on the region that it comes from and secondly it is not aged as long as Champagne before it is released. Whereas most Champagne is aged for at least two or three years, most Cremant is only aged for nine months.
Given the number of different regions and grapes used there is a large variety of styles of Cremant but the wines are generally lighter and fruitier with less of the bready and pastry like notes that you often find with Champagne. The earlier release, with the associated savings in storage costs also means the wines are in most cases less expensive.
There are four regions that lead the way when it comes to Cremant. Alsace, nestled on the Eastern side of the Vosges mountains, is the leading producer. More than 25 per cent of Alsace production is Cremant and over 38 million bottles were sold in 2022. Here the wines are made using Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris and are slightly fuller bodied.
VERSATILE
In close pursuit are Burgundy and the Loire. These two famous regions produce a similar amount of Cremant to each other. In Burgundy the wines are based on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and in the Loire on Chenin Blanc. Then finally there is Bordeaux. Yes, much better known for red wines, Bordeaux has however been producing sparkling wines for a long time. Here the wines are generally made using Semillon but other grapes, like Cabernet Franc, Muscadelle and even Merlot are sometimes blended for additional complexity.
Cremant is also as versatile as it is good value. It’s perfect on its own as an aperitif but even better alongside smoked salmon canapes. It’s brilliant with food too. Try Cremant alongside fish and goat’s cheese starters, salmon en croute or classic fish and chips. Then when it comes to cheese these wines are fabulous with soft and creamy options like Brie, Langres and for a truly indulgent treat try the triple cream Brillat-Savarin! You can also use Cremant in a range of sparkling wine cocktails.
FABULOUS 4 TO TRY
Cave de Tuckheim , Cremant d’Alsace – Made by one of the biggest producers in Alsace this is brilliant value for the quality. Like apple pie in a glass! £13.99 at Waitrose.
Simonnet Febvre , Cremant de Bourgogne Brut ¬ From the famous Chablis producer comes this Chardonnay dominant fizz. This has fine bubbles and heady citrus notes. £15 at Tesco.
Domaine de Landreau , Cremant de Loire Brut – An elegant bubbly made using a blend of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. This is aged for a longer period of two years which adds nutty notes of hazelnut and almond to the base of apple and lemon balm. £17 at Tivoli Wines.
Etoile de Timberlay , Cremant de Bordeaux – This insanely good value fruit forward fizz is made with Merlot , Semillon and Cabernet Franc and at £10 from Marks & Spencer you just can’t go wrong.