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Cremant de Bourgogne
There’s no doubt wine lovers around the world have always considered Champagne the finest sparkling wine on earth, but the French wine has local competition. Cremants from every major wine-producing region in the country are of excellent quality and are often less expensive than Champagne.
Cremant de Bourgogne might just be the finest Cremant in France, and its best examples are up there with the most exclusive on the planet. Sparklers are a French speciality with no equal. And although ordering Champagne is an easy decision for any occasion, seasoned wine enthusiasts often choose Cremant instead, a category with excellent value.
It is not the most widespread sparkling wine on the market, but has an ever-growing fan base thanks to committed winemakers in Burgundy, known for having mastered the art of producing this sparkling wine since the Middle Ages.
Production
Cremant de Bourgogne is a regional appellation that covers every wine-producing region in Burgundy, from northern Chablis to Beaujolais in the south. Every Domaine in the famous wine region can make sparkling wine and label it as Cremant de Bourgogne, but not all of them do. Although making fine wine in Burgundy is an art form, crafting premium sparkling wine calls for entirely different skills.
Sparkling wine in Burgundy goes back to the early 1800s, although the appellation to safeguard the wine style wasn’t created until 1975. In 2013, the appellation added two quality tiers for Cremant de Bourgogne: Eminent for wines aged for 24 months, and Grand Eminent for wines aged for a minimum of 36 months. Regular Cremant de Bourgogne ages for nine months before being disgorged.
All wines in the appellation must be made with the Traditional Method that mirrors the complicated winemaking process perfected in Champagne. Producers ferment the grapes to create base wines, which undergo a second fermentation in bottle, where the wine gets its effervescence.
Today, approximately 130 producers make nearly 19.2 million bottles every year from 2,861 hectares of vines in 386 communes.
Grape Varieties and Blends
Cremant de Bourgogne is made with Burgundy’s flagship varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which must account for at least 80% of any wine. Secondary varieties can comprise 20% of the blend and include Gamay, Aligoté, Melon and Sacy.
There are several styles; Cremant Blanc has a pale straw to golden colour and can be made with any of the allowed varieties. Blanc de Blancs is reserved for sparkling wine made exclusively with white grapes, and Blanc de Noir wine is made with red varieties, even if the resulting wine is white. Cremant rosé is a trendy style made with a combination of white and red wine.
Producers can make it in several sweetness levels as well: Brut, sec and demi-sec, with sugar levels as high as 55 grams per litre. Of course, the wine’s acidity balances its sweetness for sparkling wine with richness and finesse.
Buy Crémant de Bourgogne Wines from Hourlier Wines
Dampt Freres Rosé
Dampt Freres is a well-known producer growing grapes in Chablis and the Tonnerrois. The family-owned estate champions sustainable grape growing and winemaking techniques to craft extraordinary wine in all styles, including spectacular Cremant. This strawberry-coloured wine is made with 100% Pinot Noir and has the most attractive berry scents, along with floral and peach aromas, over a crisp palate with lingering acidity permeated with limestone minerality. Enjoy as an apéritif or with summer salads, soft cheese and Mediterranean-inspired seafood dishes.
Dampt Freres Brut
This elegant blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay is bold and vibrant. Expect citrus peels and cherry scents released from every fine bubble stream. The straw-coloured Cremant has a silky mouthfeel and persistent aftertaste, along with piercing acidity that makes this refined wine an ideal companion at the table. Enjoy with Asian stir-fries, tomato-based dishes, savoury pastries and pies at a temperature between 8-10°C.
Domaine Matray Brut Cuvée Cylia
Five generations of winemakers have made Domaine Matray in Juliénas (Beaujolais) one of the most committed wine producers in the area and one of the few that makes bubbles. The estate named this 100% Chardonnay after the family’s youngest member, and you can expect freshness and fruit on the nose and palate. Tropical fruit dominates the sparkling wine’s bouquet, while the palate brims with stone fruit and minerality. Enjoy as an apéritif or with mildly sweet desserts at 7°C.
FAQ
Where does Cremant de Bourgogne wine originate?
Sparkling wine in Burgundy goes back to 1819, and the authorities created an appellation for the style in 1975. It can come from every wine-producing sub-region in Burgundy, including Chablis, the Côte de Or, the Chalonnaise, the Maconnais and Beaujolais. And although sparkling wine producers can source grapes from any Burgundian vineyard, the finest sites are often reserved for making the region’s famous still wines.
What does Cremant de Bourgogne wine taste like?
It varies in style and sweetness. Still, most of it has a clean profile featuring scents reminiscent of golden apples, pears, and white flowers, often with lactic and yeast fragrances proper of wines made with the Traditional Method. Examples have fine, persistent bubbles and a refreshing palate, often extending long into the aftertaste. Cremant rosé might display red fruit scents that stand out, especially in wines with noticeable residual sugar.
Which food groups pair well with Cremant de Bourgogne wine?
It is a beautiful apéritif best enjoyed between 4-6°C. The sparkling wine will also pair well with fried finger food and breaded seafood. Heartier meals, such as braised oxtail, pair well with sparkling wine, but the wine category is so diverse that some examples can complement anything, from roasted poultry to ice cream. If served with main courses, it’s best to serve Cremant at a higher temperature of around 10°C. The finest examples can age and evolve in the cellar for decades.
