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French Winophiles Are Crazy for Crémant d’Alsace
This month our French Winophiles are collaborating with @DrinkAlsace as we celebrate Crémant d’Alsace, a delicious sparkling wine from the Alsace region in France. Scroll down further in this post for links to all our Winophiles posts!

Fast Facts about Crémant d’Alsace
Crémant refers to traditional method sparkling wines from France but outside the actual Champagne region. Crémant d’Alsace is the largest volume of the various regions and is the most widely distributed.

• Alsace leads the wine regions in France with their adoption of Organic and Biodynamic practices. In 2019 25% of Alsace vineyards were farmed organically.
• Crémant d’Alsace is made in the traditional method with second fermentation in the bottle, similar to Champagne.
• Grapes must be hand harvested. Vineyard yields, pressing of grapes are also similar.
• Crémant d’Alsace is made from typical grapes of the Alsace region: Pinot Blanc (#1), Auxxerois, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay. Crémant d’Alsace Rosé must be made from 100% Pinot Noir.
• Minimum aging in the bottle is 8 months, slightly shorter than Champagne
• Minimum pressure is 4.5 atmospheres, also slightly lower than Champagne.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Drink Alsace. The wines were provided as samples, no other compensation was involved. All opinions expressed are mine.

A Candidate for Your House Bubbly

Charles Frey Crémant d’Alsace AOP Brut Nature (sample, $22 SRP or online here) 12.5% abv
The Frey family was long established in Alsace, but their farm was polyculture as many were at the time. Domaine Charles Frey was formed in 1963 when Charles decided to dedicate himself to wine, eventually growing to 35 acres of vineyard. In 1997, Charles’ son, Dominique, joined in the operation and led the conversion to biodynamics, completed in 1997. Today, the third generation continues with Organic and Biodynamic certifications. This Crémant d’Alsace is fermented with indigenous yeasts, the still wine is aged in foudres (large oak casks) for 8 months then spends 18 months aging in bottle after second fermentation.
Eye: Pale gold with very nice fine bubbles and a persistent mousse
Nose: Medium plus intensity aromas of bread dough, fresh ripe pears and yellow apple, anise, hay, subtle butter, baking bread
Mouth: Bone dry, high acidity, medium body with a creamy texture, medium alcohol, medium plus intensity flavors, medium finish. The pear and bread flavors meld into an impression of a pear galette though not sweet.
Observations: Delicious with our salmon tartine. Slightly riper nature of the fruit helps keep the very low dosage from being too severe, it’s very lean but just right for Brut Nature.

Jean-Baptiste Adam Crémant d’Alsace AOC Brut-Rosé (sample, $26 SRP or online here) 12% abv
Jean-Baptiste Adam winery was founded way back in 1614 in the community of Ammerschwihr. They own 42 acres and farm another 10 acres, all Biodynamic. The great thing about Crémant d’Alsace Rosé is that it must be made from 100% Pinot Noir.
Eye: Medium salmon color with fine bubbles
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of orange peel, fresh red apple, barely ripe red cherry, a touch of fresh thyme, brioche.
Mouth: Dry, tart high acidity, medium minus body, medium alcohol, medium intensity flavors, medium finish. Flavors mirror the nose with emphasis on the orange peel and cherry.
Observations: The dosage on this sparkling wine is just right. On the palette, there is a hint of sweetness but no more. The wine impresses as not austere but not overtly off-dry. Well done!

Joseph Cattin Crémant d’Alsace AOC Brut (sample, $19 SRP or online here) 12%abv
Joseph Cattin was established in 1720 and today owns and sustainably farms 65 hectares (about 160 acres). The Crémant d’Alsace Brut is aged for 15 months in the bottle before disgorgement.
Eye: Pale gold with very fine bubbles
Nose: Medium intensity nose of apple blossom, fresh green apples and just ripe pear, brioche and a bit of hay.
Mouth: Just barely off-dry, vibrant high acidity, medium minus body with a bit of creaminess, medium alcohol, medium flavor intensity, medium plus finish. The green apple and brioche mix nicely on the palate.
Observations: The creamy texture balances the high acidity and the light touch of sweetness from the Brut level of dosage combine for a delicious sparkling wine.

Fellow Winophiles Report on Crémant d’Alsace
Take a look at our posts below, then why not come and join our conversation on Twitter? We’d love to hear your thoughts, we chat on Saturday June 18 from 10-11am CDT at #Winophiles. See you there!

• Cremant Wine Battered Perch; Michigan and French Classics Collide on A Day in the Life on the Farm
• A Thai Green Curry Lesson + Willm Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé on Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Crémant d’Alsace: An Elegant Sparkling Wine from France on Grape Experiences
• Crémant d’Alsace – Exploring the Nuances of France’s 2nd Favorite Sparkling Wine on Crushed Grape Chronicles
• Crémant d’Alsace: A Candidate for Your House Bubbly on Food Wine Click!
• Crémant d’Alsace Paired with Summer Fish Menus on Always Ravenous
• Crab Crêpes Compliment Crémant d’Alsace for Summer on Wine Predator
• Cheese Hour at the Culinary Cabin with Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Reserve on Somm’s Table
• Porch Sipper of the Year: Crémant d’Alsace on Keep the Peas
• Crispy Fishwich + an Organic Cremant d’Alsace from Charles Bauer on Wineivore
• Try This Traditional French Sparkler For Modern Drinkers on L’Occasion