In France, you can taste Champagne and sparkling wines, petillant, perlent (or pearly), and mousseux wines.
But what is the difference between all these bubbles?
What is a sparkling wine?
A sparkling wine (or mousseux) is a wine containing a dose of carbon dioxide generated during fermentation. Carbon dioxide is also called carbonic anhydride, carbon dioxide or CO2. The gas must be present enough to give the wine bubbles and foam. It is kept dissolved in the wine thanks to the airtight seal of the glass bottle and the mushroom-shaped cork, held in place by a wire cage.
A sparkling wine is the opposite of a still wine.
They do not all have the same volume of gas in the bottle. Thus, we distinguish:
Mousseux wines: the CO2 level must be above 4g per liter.
Petillant wines: the CO2 level must be between 2 and 4g per liter.
Sparkling wines: the CO2 level must be between 1 and 2g per liter.
Below 1g per liter, the wine is considered a still wine.
Champagne, a controlled designation of origin with a unique history
Today, Champagne wines are regarded as the star of sparkling wines, partly due to their exceptional clientele. The region's historical heritage, including the Reims cathedral where the kings of France were crowned, is also one of the reasons Champagne is so popular. Indeed, during the coronations, Champagne wine was naturally tasted.
At the time, it was the kings themselves who bought Champagne for the court, making the wine not only popular and famous but also profitable. Indeed, on grand occasions, Champagne was considered the only drink worthy of being served.
Champagne then became a rich wine region, with highly praised wines capable of investing great effort into their production.
The controlled designation of origin Champagne now has the strictest rules regarding sparkling wines, especially in terms of aging since Champagne is the sparkling wine with the longest aging (minimum 12 to 15 months).
Crémant
A crémant is a sparkling wine obtained by the traditional method (méthode champenoise). There are many crémants under different appellations. Thus, there are crémants from Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Jura, Die, Limoux, Loire, Savoie, Luxembourg, and Wallonia.
The production of crémants must comply with a specification specific to their region.
Originally, the word crémant was used to designate a Champagne whose pressure was half as much and which, consequently, had a lighter foam, called creamy.
Crémant d'Alsace
Crémant d'Alsace is a sparkling wine with controlled designation of origin. It is produced in the Alsace vineyard and is mainly made from the pinot blanc grape variety but also pinot gris, pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling, or auxerrois. There is no constraint on proportions. The rosé Crémant d'Alsace, quite rare, is made from pinot noir.
The production method of Crémant d'Alsace is identical to that of Champagne.
Cheaper than Champagne, it is also lighter. However, it keeps much less long than Champagne, as it can be stored for a maximum of 5 years.
Crémant d'Alsace has become one of the leaders in the French sparkling wine market, after Champagne. Indeed, with more than 35 million bottles per year, 80% of which are sold domestically, Crémant d'Alsace achieves very strong performance.
Crémant de Bourgogne
Crémant de Bourgogne is a sparkling wine with controlled designation of origin produced in the vineyards of Burgundy, namely the departments of Yonne, Côte-d’Or, Saône-et-Loire, and part of Rhône.
It is the village of Rully that is the birthplace of Crémant de Bourgogne along with Tonnerre and Nuits-Saint-Georges. In the 19thth century, the population's taste for sparkling wines developed very quickly. The village of Rully, already at that time known for its white and red wines, imported the know-how of Champagne into Burgundy.
The grape varieties used in making crémant are pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot blanc, pinot gris, gamay, aligoté, melon, and sacy.
The Jura Crémant
Jura crémant, like other crémants, is a sparkling wine with controlled designation of origin. It is produced in the Jura vineyard and made from the grape varieties poulsard, trousseau, chardonnay, savagnin, and pinot noir.
The production of sparkling wines in Jura dates back to the late 18th century.
The controlled designation of origin Crémant du Jura was obtained on October 9, 1995. The appellation area of Crémant du Jura is identical to that of Côtes du Jura, Château Chalon, Arbois, and l'Etoile.
For some, Jura Crémants made from the chardonnay grape (a variety also found in great champagnes) are similar to very good champagnes.
The Bordeaux Crémant
Bordeaux crémant is a white or rosé sparkling wine with controlled designation of origin, produced in the same appellation area as Bordeaux. It was officially recognized by decree on April 1, 1990.
For the production of white Bordeaux crémant, the two main grape varieties are sémillon, making up 60% of the blend, and sauvignon. For rosé crémant, it is a blend of cabernet (70%) and merlot (30%).
Bordeaux crémants are known for being consumed young; they can be kept for a maximum of 2 to 3 years. They are also meant to be served very chilled, between 5 and 7°.
Champagne vs Crémant: what’s the difference?
It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between a glass of Crémant and a flute of Champagne since many similarities are present. Why? Because both are made using the same process. However, differences do exist, beyond the price!
The main difference lies in the grape varieties used to make the wines. While Champagne must be made from pinot noir, chardonnay, or pinot meunier, this is not the case for Crémant. Additionally, the yield between the amount of grapes harvested and the liters obtained also varies.
Another major difference is the wine’s aging duration. For a Crémant, aging is a minimum of 9 months, whereas for a Champagne, the appellation is granted after 12 months of aging.
Due to differences in grape varieties, yield, aging, and terroir, the selling prices vary. In any case, both Crémant and Champagne are served chilled between 8 and 12°C.
Clairette de Die
Clairette de Die is a sparkling AOC wine from the Rhône Valley, more precisely from the Drôme. The Clairette de Die wine region is located in the Southern Alps at the foot of the Vercors massif and along the Drôme river.
Clairette de Die is unique due to its ancient and distinctive method. The wine ferments and becomes naturally sparkling in the bottle without anything added. It becomes effervescent thanks to several fermentation phases, the last of which happens slowly in the bottle.
It is the only sparkling wine made from muscat grapes. It features fruity flavors of peach and apricot, along with beautiful floral notes.
Clairette de Limoux
Clairette de Limoux or Blanquette de Limoux is a sparkling wine protected by a controlled designation of origin. The Clairette de Limoux wine region is located in the Aude department in Occitanie. Originally, it is the world’s first sparkling wine. Indeed, it was the monks of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Hilaire who, in 1531, produced in their cellar a white wine that naturally fizzes in its glass flask sealed with a cork.
This appellation produces wines marked by aromas of fruits like green apple, spring flowers, and honey. The wine is best enjoyed chilled at 6-7°C. It’s perfect to serve with desserts, especially chocolate ones.
Craving bubbles?
At Domaine du Goût, we love bubbles! That’s why we offer 3 exceptional champagnes in our shop, selected by our sommelier Thierry Dorge! You can discover them by clicking here.
