What is Crémant and What Should I Try?

Sparkling wine tends to come to many of our minds during springtime, encouraged by the warmer weather and the celebratory period as wedding season beckons. Sparkling French wine is perfect for these occasions, but did you know there’s so much more out there than just Champagne? We're talking about Crémant which has enjoyed increased popularity lately, so you might be keen to know what it is and why Crémant sparks such interest. Let's delve further into the world of Crémant to find out more!

What is crémant?

First of all. Crémant is a sparkling wine variety, which is quality wine that can be either white or Rosé, produced within 8 specific regions in France (also referenced as appellations) – we will come back to those specific regions later. As the French treat Crémant as seriously as they do Champagne, the production of Crémant is protected, which is known as being AOC classified (controlled origin appellation) and the appellations are authorised by the INAO (France’s regulatory body for appellations). This means that not any old sparkling wine produced in France can just call itself a Crémant! Crémant is made by the traditional method production (similar to Champagne) and this specific production type binds all 8 appellations. There is even a National Federation of Crémant Growers and Producers that was founded in 1982!

Where does crémant come from?

Coming back to those 8 regions mentioned above, Crémant is produced in Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Die, Jura, Limoux, Loire and Savoie – these regions cover most of the corners of France, so this sounds like the perfect excuse for a spot of wine tourism with a French road trip following this wine route! Some of these regions, such as Bordeaux, may already be known to you for their still white and red wines and now you can also combine the usual wine tasting visit with tasting some bubbles too! The Crémant name is protected by the National Federation of Crémant Growers and Producers which encourages the knowledge and promotion of their beloved wine on a national and international scale.

What is the difference between champagne and crémant?

This is a good question as these are both sparkling wine varieties produced in France but the key difference is that Champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region, whereas there are other regions to choose from that produce Crémant. Plus, of course there is the price difference with Crémant being a cost effective solution without reducing the taste quality as it’s produced in the same way to Champagne. Crémant can use different grape varieties (Champagne only uses Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) and can also have a higher PH level than Champagne.

Does crémant differ depending on the region (appellation) that it is made from?

Again, this is a very good question as a 2009 community regulation contains the requisites that all Crémant wines must adhere to and yet there are also regional differences. What is common to all Crémant wines is that there is secondary fermentation in the bottle (this is where the delightful bubbles are created due to carbon dioxide). The rules for Crémant also mean that the wines are aged in the bottle for at least 9 additional months, which is where that yeasty smell and taste may be apparent, as there is that contact with the lees (dead yeast cells) when the wine is stirred. Crémant must also be sold only 12 months after the bottling process. Furthermore, the other rules for Crémant are quite stringent; they must be manually harvested, the wine needs to come from specifically squeezed grapes, and there are restrictions on the amount of sulphur chemicals and the level of sugar content too! Let’s explore France some more to truly get to know Crémant!

Alsace

Within the Alsace region, vineyards are planted close to the local villages and it is therefore not surprising that the region is the largest producer of Crémant with around 32.9 million bottles sold per year! According to the Alsace regional tourism board, those sales fall second to that of Champagne in the sparkling wine production, which is a very impressive statistic! Crémant d’Alsace accounts for approximately 24% of Alsace’s wine production and there are regional stipulations governing Alsace’s Crémants, so let’s talk about those!

In 1976, Crémant d’Alsace received its AOC classification but the wine producers from Alsace employed the traditional method for their sparkling wines since the late 19th century! Some of the Alsace Crémants will involve a blend of grape varieties but others may be a single grape variety. But, Pinot Noir tends to be the main grape variety which provides that delicate taste. However, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay may also be present and Pinot Noir is the only variety used for the rosé version. As another tip, you can access the online directory for the Alsace wine route when in France!

Bordeaux

Bordeaux may be renowned for its delicious red wines but it is also a producer of quality Crémant sparkling wines! However, it was only in 1990 that the Crémant de Bordeaux received its AOC ranking. Similar to the Alsace region, Bordeaux also uses the traditional method for its crémant production and what you can expect from these Crémants, as indicated by the Bordeaux regional tourism board, are fine bubbles and aromatic wines. Crémant only accounts for 1% of the wine production in Bordeaux, making it one of the smaller Crémant producers but these typically use the same Bordeaux grapes as their still wines. Therefore, the main grape varieties you will see in a Crémant de Bordeaux are Sémillion and Sauvignon. For the Rosé Crémants, these might have a blend of Cabernet and Merlot.

Bourgogne

It was in the early 19th century that Champagne knowledge, via the village Rully, was imported to Bourgogne (Burgundy in English). But, the AOC classification for Crémant de Bourgogne was only received in 1975! Again, this Crémant uses the traditional method (méthode champenoise) and with Crémant de Bourgogne you can also find a Blanc de Blanc and Blanc des Noirs as well as the usual white and red varieties. You can expect to find the grapes of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir within these Crémants. There are approximately 19.2 million bottles sold each year which amounts to 10% of the wine produced in the Bourgogne region! Plus, there is the further segregation within Crémants from Bourgogne with the ‘eminent’ Crémants, aged for at least 24 months and the ‘grand eminent’ Crémants aged for 36 months or more!

Die (the Rhône)

From the Drôme Valley vineyards comes the Crémant de Die with its special location between the Alps and Provence. The vineyards therefore occupy some of France’s highest altitudes at nearly 700 metres! Die is approximately two hours away from Lyon in the south east of France and is one of the smallest Crémant producers. The appellation was received in 1993 and approximately 700,000 bottles of Crémant de Die are sold each year. The grape varieties typically used are Clairette, Aligoté and Muscat which create that green fruits aroma. Crémant de Die could also be combined with chestnut liqueur for a Kir which sounds like a very tempting cocktail to us!

Jura

Whilst this sparkling wine production dates back to the late 18th century, the AOC classification was only received in 1995! This appellation region is also connected with the Côtes du Jura, Arbois, Château-Chalon and L’Étoile. Crémant du Jura differs from some of the other appellations as there are five authorised grape varieties! These are Poulsard, Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Chardonnay and Savagnin. For white Crémants du Jura, there must be at least 70% of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Trousseau. At least 50% of Pinot Noir, Poulsard and Trousseau must be utilised for the Rosé and the grapes are hand harvested too! There are approximately 1.7 million bottles sold per year which accounts for around 16% of the total Jura AOC production. A fun fact is that there is also a specific Crémant du Jura flute glass specially designed to get the best out of your Crémant du Jura!

Limoux

Situated in the south of France and in the middle of the Languedoc, Crémant de Limoux was first mentioned in a document dating back to 1544 starting with the ancestral method of production. However, the AOC label was only granted to Crémant de Limoux in 1990, but it’s just one of five AOC classifications in the region. The AOC Crémant de Limoux typically consists of two main grape varieties being Chardonnay and Chenin with at least 90% of these varieties having to be used. Additionally, the other varieties Mauzac and Pinot Noir would use 40% maximum of the variety, of which 20% must be Mauzac. Like we said, it can be strict and precise! The grapes will be hand picked and the Crémants produced by the traditional method. The Crémants de Limoux are typically Brut with a floral aroma and the region sells approximately 5.8 million bottles per year. What is also exciting, as mentioned by the Limoux regional tourism board, is that the 33rd edition of the National Crémant Competition will take place in Limoux in April 2024 - keep an eye out for the winners!

Loire

The production area of Crémant de Loire covers the villages of Drain to Cheverny and therefore includes AOC classified regions such as Anjou and Saumur. Crémant de Loire received its appellation in 1975 and its northern location means that there is a diversity of climates impacting the grapes production. The main grape varieties used are Chenin and Cabernet Franc, but there may be blends using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Grolleau Noir, Grolleau Gris and Orbois to add more flavour! The Crémants de Loire will therefore typically be quite fresh and subtle on the nose and approximately 17 million bottles are sold each year.

Savoie

In the steep valleys of the Alps, the Crémant de Savoie is the newest region to receive its appellation, which was only granted in 2015! The AOC Crémants de Savoie use a multitude of grape varieties but there are restrictions, as usual, for production! The main grape varieties used are the Savoyard Jacquère and Altesse grapes of which 60% must be used - the other 40% being from the Jacquère grapes. Other grape varieties include Chasselas, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay for the other 40% but there must be a maximum 20% of grape varieties used. You should therefore expect fresh and citrus aromas from the Crémants de Savoie given the cool climate and there are approximately 350,000 bottles sold each year. It would therefore be ideal to combine your skiing with wine tasting in the Savoie region!

Which crémants should I try?

Now that you are armed with all of this Crémant knowledge about the appellations, here are some bottles of Crémant that we think you will love!

Gratien & Meyer Crémant de Loire Rosé

This is a smooth drinkable Rosé with a pale pink salmon colour. It is bursting full of strawberries with a light aroma, a dry flavour and medium finish. It offers a subtle elegance that makes it ideal to drink by itself as an after work treat! This one is a definite crowd pleaser!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Price: £12.50

Louis Vallon Crémant De Bordeaux Blanc De Noirs

A medium bodied Crémant with a light texture, this is an easy drinking elegant bottle. There are citrus, peaches and apple aromas on the nose with a slight detection of yeast and almonds. This Crémant pairs well with almonds as an aperitif.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Price: £14.75

Cave De Turckheim NV - ALSACE AOC

This is a balanced Crémant from Alsace with a pale lemon colour and fine bubbles and tastes just like a Champagne! There are peach and floral aromas on the nose with a medium intensity and strong finish which pairs quite well with popcorn for a film night!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Price: £12.75

N.V. Crémant de Bourgogne, Dufouleur Pere et Fils

This is Brut Crémant with a slightly golden colour and is from the Nuit St George’s area. There is a fruity aroma with green apple and peach with a creamy biscuits taste on the palate and medium intensity as a good all rounder.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Price: £17.75

Waitrose Cuvée Royale Brut Crémant de Limoux

This is a fresh tasting Crémant with big bubbles from the Limoux region. It has a medium complexity with an aroma of floral pears to provide a light but dry wine with a biscuity taste. This would pair very well with salmon blinis for those celebrations!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Price: £13.99

Aldi Specially Selected Crémant du Jura

This Crémant is very popular and keeps flying off the shelves - we can see why! It is a flavourful, aromatic Crémant packed with a fruit forward profile which is also fresh with green apple and a creamy secondary aroma with medium intensity and finish. This would be the ideal Crémant to have with brunch with friends!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Price: £8.99

Château de l'aulée Crémant NV - Crémant de Loire

This is a dry Crémant that surprisingly tastes just like a Champagne and is very quaffable! It uses Chenin Blanc as its single grape and has a golden colour with rich primary and secondary aromas of apple, brioche and biscuits. This will appeal to many palates and would work well with sea food.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12.5%
Price: £18.99

Benjamin Darnault Vignerons Wife Crémant de Bourgogne Brut

A very smooth, easy drinking Crémant which is a Chardonnay blend. This is ideal for those who enjoy a lighter, subtle sparkling wine with aromas of green apple, floral and a crisp taste. This will be ideal for sitting in the garden with a picnic.

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Price: £19.99

Sainsburys Taste the Difference Crémant d’Alsace

This is a dry tasting Alsace Crémant with hints of green apple, citrus flavours and secondary flavours of brioche. It has a medium intensity with high acidity and a creamy texture to provide that balanced profile and can be drunk by itself for that spa day!

Size: 75cl
ABV: 12%
Price: £11.50

We would love to hear which Crémants you have tried as they make such a good alternative to Champagne and there is often not that much difference in the taste, depending on the region! Crémant will be great for those spring and summer special occasions or a perfect excuse to treat yourself - what are you waiting for? Santé!

By Latoya Austin

8 Sparkling Wine Cocktails To Serve This Festive Season

You can’t beat adding some fizz and sparkle to festive proceedings with sparkling wine cocktails. They’re super simple to make, refreshing, delicious and they’re amazingly versatile when it comes with food pairings. From classics to more unusual concoctions, these are 8 of the best cocktails using various sparkling wines!

Negroni Sbagliato

Don’t be surprised if younger family members bring this cocktail up, because it went viral on TikTok recently after House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy announced her love for it. In short, it’s a Prosecco Negroni. This makes for a lighter Negroni, perfect if you’re not a big fan of the usual bitterness Negronis can have. An extra dry Prosecco like Giusti Rosalia works perfectly because the slight sweetness counteracts the spirits’ bitterness.

Ingredients
25ml Prosecco
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
orange slice (to garnish)

 Method
Pour the Campari and vermouth into a rocks glass and fill it with ice. Top up with Prosecco. Stir gently to chill and garnish with the orange slice. Voilà!

Mimosa

Any sparkling wine of your choice will do for a Mimosa, but we’ve gone for Cava. It’s the light and fresh option that’s perfect for pretty much any special occasion, and Christmas is no different! Just sparkling wine and orange juice here, so it’s perfect to ratio to your liking. If you’ve got a sparkling wine that you particularly love, go heavy on that! But if Nan’s on her 3rd Baileys before the turkey’s even out of the oven? Maybe it’s a good idea to up that OJ before handing her one.

Ingredients
100ml Cava
100ml orange juice 

Method
It’s just a case of combining the two in flutes here, so make sure you’ve got a sparkling wine that you love, and a good quality orange juice! It couldn’t be simpler.

Top Tip: Remember, chill everything to avoid using ice as this will kill off the bubbles!

Bellini

Famously easy to make, this a reliably refreshing Italian cocktail with only two ingredients – Prosecco and peach. It was supposedly named after Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini because the drink’s gorgeous colour reminded the Venetian bartender of Bellini’s warm colour palette!

Ingredients
60ml peach purée
160ml Prosecco
Peach slice (garnish)

Method
You can buy peach purée but unless you’re a Bellini lover, you probably won’t have it in the cupboard. All you have to do is blend some peeled peaches until smooth and refrigerate. When it’s time to serve, strain into a flute, top up with Prosecco and gently stir. If you’ve got a peach left, of course a slice as garnish tops it all off!

Kir Real

Crème de Cassis is a gorgeous blackcurrant liqueur from Dijon in France and topping it up with a sparkling white gives you the Kir cocktail, created in 19th century France. Using Champagne instead creates the Kir Royale, but we’ve gone for Spanish Cava to create a much better value Kir Real. It requires the same time-consuming method as Champagne, there’s just more of it about! But it’s far closer a Champagne than something like a Prosecco so works great for this. Bubbly bite with juicy fruity sweetness! Fit for a royal indeed.

Ingredients
1 tbsp crème de cassis
Cava
Blackberry (optional garnish) 

Method
Nice and simple. Pour your crème de cassis into a Champagne flute and top up with Cava! A fresh or frozen blackberry or lemon twist makes a great garnish.

Rosé Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz was created in Italy and is now officially Germany’s favourite cocktail. If you want to inject some summery feeling into your festive season, or maybe you’re somewhere sunny for Christmas, then this Rosé version is there for you. The passion fruit juice is ideal for bridging the gap between the subtle bitterness of the Aperol and the fruity wine. The result is a fruitier, more refined Spritz that’s a very drinkable switch up. Who says it's just for summer?

Ingredients
50ml Aperol
75ml rosé
30ml soda
30ml passion fruit juice
Lime wedge (garnish)

 Method
Pop one ice cube in your glass and combine the Aperol with rosé. Top up with soda and juice, stirring gently to avoid breaking up the fizz, and then garnish with a lime wedge! Enjoy!  

The Golden Dram

Scotch cocktails can often be thought to be dark and moody affairs, but this unusual pairing with sparkling wine changes that. Combined with an Angostura-soaked sugar cube, you create a unique and refreshing cocktail that’s probably not quite like anything you’ve tasted before.

Ingredients
Angostura bitters-soaked sugar cube
25ml Scotch
100ml Prosecco

 Method

Drop a single sugar cube into your Champagne flute and soak with a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then add Scotch before topping up to the top with Prosecco! Stir lightly to slowly dissolve the sugar and you’re all set.

Top Tip: If you like your cocktails sweeter, soak the sugar cube in a teaspoon of honey too!

Black Velvet

Legend goes that the Black Velvet was thought up by a London steward as Britain mourned the death of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert in 1861. Whether that’s true or not, it certainly looks the part. Traditionally, it uses Champagne, but we’re using this opportunity to shout out Crémant. It’s a sparkling wine made using the same method as Champagne, and although it was once looked down upon, the current crop of Crémant producers have upped their game and it massively punches above its price point! You can find decent bottles for under £10, and still pull together a delightful Black Velvet that blends the bitter richness of Guinness, with the fizzing lightness of the wine.

Ingredients
100ml Guinness
100ml Crémant

 Method
Super simple apart from a drop of bartending technique. Fill half a Champagne flute with your crémant, and top up the rest with Guinness, pouring over the back of a spoon to achieve beautiful layering.

Rosé Bowler

This is an adaption of the Champagne bowler that dates back to the 1930s, but we’re going all out on the strawberries using rosé instead. The trio of grapes with brandy, dry white, and rosé provide a really interesting foundation for the muddled strawberries, and the good thing about this is, if you’ve picked up some berries that aren’t as sweet as you’d like, the rosé picks up the slack.

Ingredients
3 chopped strawberries
20ml brandy (preferably Cognac)
30ml dry white wine (like Chardonnay)
60ml rosé
Dash of syrup (optional)

 Method
Chop 3 strawberries and muddle them well in a shaker. Add your brandy, white wine and ice and shake well. Pour into your glass (without straining) and top up with Rosé.

Top Tip: We know winter strawberries can be a bit hit and miss, so if it’s still not sweet enough just re-introduce the syrup from the original Champagne recipe!

If you’re in the process of planning your Christmas offerings, then make sure to complete your set up with some Boozy Crackers that look stunning and taste delicious inside (the drinks inside that is, not the cracker itself).

And if you’re looking for the perfect Prosecco to make the above, take a look at our Best Proseccos for Under £15 here!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

The Best Bubbles to Pop this Festive Season

With the near constant flow of food from nibbles to feasts to desserts, a delicious sparkling wine is perfect for cutting through Christmastime and providing the crisp refreshment required. Without further ado, here’s a selection of our most eye-catching fizzes, from supermarket marvels to sublime top tier magic! Let’s pop those corks!

The Best Budget Sparkling Wine (£10 and Under)

Sainsbury's Cava Brut

Cava is made using the same method as Champagne, but with Spanish grapes like Paradella, Macabeo and Xarel-lo which creates a more tropical and savoury profile than Champagne. Some see it as less refined but when it comes down to value, Cava is king. Those three grapes all go into this Cava Brut, which is aged for at least nine months creating bold zesty citrus aromas. It feels super fresh and vibrant, with a particularly lovely green apple flavour running through it. Try it with any fish from smoke salmon to good old fish and chips.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 1.5%
Find here: £5.85

ALDI’s Specially Selected Cremant Du Jura

You may not be familiar Crémant but it’s a sparkling wine made in the exact same way as Champagne outside the Champagne region, and the production quality of it has improved dramatically over recent decades. This bottle is fabulously light and refreshing, exactly what you need when feasting over the festive period. It lacks the creamy feel of a typical Crémant, but has a bolder combination of fruits, with citrussy lemon and grapefruit, and green apples and pears. If you’re fed up with Prosecco then this is a must try!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%    
Find here: £8.99

Sainsbury's Pignoletto Brut

Pignoletto derives from ‘pigna’ meaning pinecone because of the tight grape clusters on the vine and has similarities with Prosecco. Made using the Grechetto grapes of Umbria, this is drier than a usual Prosecco and similar to the Crémant above, has the pear and apple combination alongside citrusy notes. The real reward here is the refreshment of the fizz and the bright and crisp flavours that make it extremely quaffable indeed.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £7 (usually £9!)

Tesco Finest 1531 Blanquette De Limoux

If you were on the hunt for sparkling wine in 1531, this would be your only option because Blanquette de Limoux is the oldest sparkling wine in the world! Mauzac and Chenin grapes blend and age in the bottle for a year to create this light sparkling wine full of complex flavours of peach flesh and green apple. There’s a really pleasant soft acidity and interesting toasted brioche finish too. It really gives the more expensive wines and Champagnes a run for their money.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £9.50

Sainsbury's Crémant De Loire

This is another fantastic value option from Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range, and one that’s picked up some serious gongs. Mostly Chenin Blanc with a touch of Chardonnay, it’s a dry fizz with heaps of richness and refreshment from cleansing chalky apple flavours down to the Loire Valley soils. This zesty rich combination is a winning one, and so easy to drink as a result. Bravo to the producer Bouvet Ladubay!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £10 (usually £12!)

Sainsbury's Cremant d’Alsace

From the same collection is Cremant d’Alsace. Cave du Roi Dagobert are renowned in the Alsace region and produce this in the traditional method where it spends over a year bottle aging. It’s rich and creamy as a result, with buttery brioche flavours. Running alongside that too is a vibrant freshness from orchard fruits and luxurious lemon curd notes, completing an extremely well-rounded fizz for the price point. It’s perfect for any celebration and would pair really nicely with smoked salmon.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £12

The Best Mid-Tier Sparkling Wine (£10-£29.99)

Graham Norton’s Own Prosecco DOC NV

Chat show king Graham Norton has brought to us a stunning Prosecco, opting for a classic ‘Extra Dry’ style which means it’s lovely and sweet as well as being sublimely light. Citrus and white flower aromas fill your nose, and the finish is refreshingly crisp to boot. It’s a fantastic conversation starting party fizz!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.2%
Find here: £12

Invivo X Unity Prosecco Rosé

This is another bottle that has a link to Graham Norton, albeit indirectly. It’s the official wine of the Eurovision Song Contest and will be served at Liverpool next year! This Venetian wine feels suitably glam and celebratory too, with fresh strawberries on the nose and a lovely blend of green apple, orange and lemon filling the palate. A really feel good fizz for Christmas.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £12

Cave de Turkheim Crémant d'Alsace

Another delicious Crémant for the money here, standing out for its perfumed pink grapefruit and lychee, as well as a characterful tartness not always found in similar bottles. Delicate bubbles, super dry and silky smooth, this is a lovely introduction to Champagne alternatives.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £13.49

Castel Fagila Franciacorta Extra Brut

In the heart of the Franciacorta area of Calino, Castel Faglia opt for small garden-like pots rather than sprawling vineyards, bringing out different aromas to usual. Fresh fruit invites you in on the nose, and the following palate is super dry, with surprising structure and lively acidity. Think fresh toasted almonds and aromatic spice underlined with subtle citrus. Satisfying and well worth a try!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £15.50

Tissot-Maire Blanc de Noirs Cremant du Jura Brut

Sheltered in the mountains of the vineyard corridor between Burgundy and Switzerland is the Jura wine region. Maison Tissot-Maire in Arbois is the merger of two expert winemaking families making elegant wines like this. Using mainly Pinot Noir, wildflowers and ripe berries come through on the nose, before a fresh and powerful mouthfeel that has a strong mineral core. Redcurrant and spice fig show themselves amongst the fine bubbles for a stunning food-friendly wine.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £15.95

Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2017/18

Graham Beck and South African fizz have been going hand in hand since the 1990s, picking up award after award along the way using the traditional ‘Methode Cap Classique’ sparkling winemaking method. The Blanc de Blancs uses night picked Chardonnay for extra freshness, with in-your-face green aromas of lime, apple, and pear. It’s biscuity-rich, with notes of brioche and a special feel of indulgence. Put simply, it’s one of the best. Suitably magical for this special time of year.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £19.99

Tesco Finest Rose Champagne

Tesco brings us this wine in partnership with Union Champagne, a cooperative of 2000 winegrowers, 60% of whose land is Grand Cru rated, so you can be assured that the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in this are top notch. It’s super dry with invigorating citrus and red fruits before a very delicate mousse finish. Definitely pop this bubbly when you’re bringing out any fruity desserts!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £24

The Best Top End Sparkling Wine (£30+)

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve

Well, the top end was always going to include Champagne wasn’t it? In particular, this is a rich and weighty expression picking up a number of major awards. It’s ripe, it’s biscuity, it’s dense with mature fruit and a lively acidity cuts through with surgical precision. The average age of the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier is a decade, with the younger additions bringing freshness, and the elders that complexity and spice. Full-bodied bubbly that oozes class and is a joy to explore.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £46

Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2018

You don’t need fluent French to identify ‘blanc de blancs’ as ‘white from white’ meaning white wine from white grapes. In the world of Champagne, this equates to the exclusive inclusion of Chardonnay grapes, and the same applies to English Sparkling wines. This bottle happens to be both. Gusbourne is a massive name in luxury English wine as it continues to win gong after gong. 2018 conditions left the Kentish fruits in fabulous condition, creating a wonderfully layered flavour. Riper notes of nectarines and clementines float above characterful green apples, whilst alluring lemon sherbet and pink grapefruit slice through. The creamy texture bows out for a toasted nut and brioche finish that really drives home. A benchmark British sparkling wine for sure. We love it.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £46

Rare Champagne Millésime 2008

We’ve touched on Charles Heidsieck, and now it’s Piper Heidsieck which originated in 1777. The first ambassador of their Champagne? Marie Antoinette no less. Since then, Piper Heidsieck drew connections with Old Hollywood and is one of the most prestigious, technologically advanced and well-funded houses around. In short, the Millésime Rare is absolutely delicious and very special indeed. 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, all grapes were sourced from Grand Cru villages. Delicate apricot pastry and orange zest tease the nose before the magic reveals itself. Pronounced vanilla tangles with fizzing fruitiness – pineapple, blood orange and a comforting continuation of patisserie flavours. Majesty and elegance to match the price tag and for any sparkling wine lover, this guarantees a magical Christmas treat.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £194

Refreshing, and light, we love Christmas fizz but variety is the spice of life, so if you want some reds, whites or even gins to complete your festive cupboards, we’ve scrutinised and deliberated to come up with our end of year best recommendations! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Thursday Club with Talk Radio: Accessible Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a word that is capable of striking fear into many people who want to get to know wine. We know it's good. We don’t necessarily know why. We know that it can be super expensive but we’ve also seen bottles for about six quid. It’s fair to say it’s all a bit confusing. 

In a nutshell, Bordeaux is a wine region in France down on the central west coast and it’s mostly famous for making expensive red wines using a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a few others. While this is true, there are some world class white wines that come from this region, which are usually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon as well as more entry level whites, pinks, reds and sparkling ‘crémant’ wines. In recent years, the revolution really has been with the quality of these more price accessible bottles. 

Here are some to try:

Maison de la Rougerie Brut Crémant de Bordeaux

Bone dry with a whiff of floral aromatics, think crunchy green apple and white fruit. Made in the traditional method just like Champagne, this is an exceptional value fizz. A gret one for Bucks fizz or Kir Royales. 

Find it at Iceland for £8.75 

L’émigre Blanc 2020, Graves

Fine white Bordeaux will be a blend of zesty, citrusy sauvignon, with the more axy, weight Sémillom and the result is rich and intense yet elegant . This white Bordeaux is organic with great intensity offering well defined flavours of elderflower, lime and blackcurrant leaf. 

Find it at Virgin Wines for £14.99

Château Barreyres Haut-Médoc 

This is a typical ‘left-bank’ Claret, based on Cabernet Sauvignon with a whack of Merlot. Hailing from the posher part of the left bank, this is an old school style of red with cedar and blackcurrant notes with a lean, mineral core. Fab value for a lovely Cru Bourgeois.

Find it at Sainsbury’s for £13

Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Crémant

Today’s Thursday Club is all about Crémant: the French fizz made in the same way (the traditional method) as Champagne, but from other regions in France, using their local grape varieties. You can get Crémant from many regions around France, the most famous being Crémant de Bourgogne (Burgundy) Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bordeaux, Crémant de Limoux and Crémant d’Alsace. 

Only French wines can be called Crémants and they offer fantastic value, considering they are made in the same time consuming method as Champagne, where wine needs to be aged on the lees (dead yeast cells) albeit for a shorter amount of time. Lees is what gives fizz its biscuity, brioche notes. 

Today, we’re looking at Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux, Brut NV

Fizz from the world’s most famous wine region has existed for centuries but it was only officially recognised as a style in 1990. They are often more aromatic and fruity than Champagne thanks partly to the grape varieties used and less time on lees. 

Grape varieties: Sémillon and Cabernet Franc

£10 from Tesco

Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux, Brut Rosé NV

This rosé is made with the famous red grapes of Bordeaux, so offers a structured, savoury pink style that’s ideal for food like cold cuts. Cracking value and on offer at the moment. 

Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Find it for £10.39 from Ocado (down from £12.99)

Crémant de Bourgogne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut NV

The famous white grape of France’s Burgundy region (Bourgogne in French) is Chardonnay and in this case, ‘blanc de blanc’ means 100% Chardonnay, though other local grapes such as Gamay and Pinot Noir can be used. While Chardonnay is also the grape used in Champagne, the region of Burgundy is a bit warmer and so Crémant de Bourgogne is often a bit rounder with more fruit. Very easy going. 

Grape variety: Chardonnay

Find it for £10.49 Waitrosecellar on offer (down from £13)

Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé, Simonnet-Febvre, NV

The red wines of Burgundy are famously made with Pinot Noir and this Crémant is made purely with this grape. Pinot Noir is also one of the main grapes of Champagne but from here in Burgundy, the pinks are much more fruity with notes of cherry and spice. 

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Find it for £15.75 from Vinatis

See what else we have tasted on the Thursday club here, here and here!