Crémant d'Alsace

AOC Crémant d'Alsace is the official designation for Alsace sparkling wines. As early as the end of the 19th century, several Alsatian wineries were producing sparkling wines using the traditional method. This tradition, less alive in the first half of the 20th century, was maintained until the Crémant d'Alsace AOC was recognized by the decree of August 24, 1976. This decree provided the Maisons de vins d'Alsace with the new framework they needed to produce a quality sparkling wine to standards comparable to those applied by the Champagne professionals themselves. Today, over 500 winemakers are members of the Syndicat des Producteurs de vin Crémant d'Alsace, including Domaine Léon Boesch, Domaine Julien Meyer and Domaine Valentin Zusslin.

Lively and delicate, Crémant d'Alsace wine is made by second fermentation, mainly from Pinot blanc, but also from Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling or Chardonnay. These grape varieties are generally harvested at the very beginning of the grape harvest, a propitious moment when the grapes offer their best balance and finest harmony for vinification. Thanks to its original personality and impeccable quality, Crémant d'Alsace has become the leading A.O.C. sparkling wine consumed at home in France. It also enjoys considerable success abroad. Crémant d'Alsace owes its finesse and originality to the inimitable personality of each of the Alsace grape varieties used in its production, and to the privileged conditions enjoyed by their vineyards: a dry, sunny climate, exposure of the hillsides to the rising sun, and special geological features.

Most Crémant d'Alsace blanc de blancs wines are made from Pinot blanc, which gives them delicacy and suppleness; Riesling gives Crémant lively, fruity notes, full of elegance and nobility; Pinot gris gives Crémant richness and structure; Chardonnay gives Crémant race and lightness; finally, Pinot noir is the only grape variety to produce Crémant d'Alsace rosé, and more rarely blanc de noirs, full of charm and finesse.