What is the difference between Crémant d’Alsace and Champagne?
Crémant d’Alsace or Champagne?
Synonymous with parties and celebrations, sparkling wine is often served as an aperitif with family or friends, or with dessert. Among the wide variety of sparkling wines available internationally, there are two distinct production regions in France: Champagne and Crémant d’Alsace. We’re here to help you understand the main differences between these two special drinks more clearly.
Terroir: The first difference between Champagne and sparkling wine
The main difference between sparkling wine and Champagne is the region in which they are produced. Both benefit from an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and their production is highly regulated.
Champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region; its terroir is clearly defined by this region.
Sparkling wine, on the other hand, is a sparkling wine that can be produced in eight French wine-growing regions: Bordeaux, Alsace, Burgundy, Jura, Dee, Limoux, the Loire and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Crémant d’Alsace has held an AOC status since 1976. Crémant d’Alsace is made from grape varieties grown within the Alsace AOC region, notably in the communes of Barr, Bennwihr and Eguisheim. Ingersheim, Riquewihr, Wintzenheim and Katzenthal. Sparkling wines labelled ‘Crémant d’Alsace’ must be bottled in Alsace.
Grape varieties used in Crémant d’Alsace and Champagne
In Champagne, three grape varieties dominate: Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay. Pinot Noir and Meunier are red grape varieties that can be used to make both white and rosé Champagne. Indeed, to produce rosé Champagne, these grape varieties are macerated to impart colour to the wine. Other grape varieties are also permitted, but they account for less than 0.3 per cent of the vineyard area: Arbane, Petit Meunier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.
In Alsace, the list of grape varieties authorised for this sparkling wine is broader: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Chardonnay may be used to produce Alsace sparkling wines. It should be noted that if a Crémant is made from a single grape variety, the variety must be indicated on the Crémant bottle.
Production process
It is often not easy to tell the difference between sparkling wine and champagne, whether based on their appearance or the tasting experience. In fact, they can be very similar.
Indeed, they are all produced using the Champagne method. To respect the Champagne terroir, this is referred to as the ‘traditional method’ for Crémant.
traditional method or Champagne method
After the first fermentation in tanks, the liqueur (sugar and yeast solution) is added to the cuvée before bottling.
This allows a second fermentation to take place in the bottle, driven by the yeasts. The sugar provided by the liqueur is converted into alcohol, and carbon dioxide is produced. This is known as the formation of bubbles.
The sparkling wine is then aged on slats for varying lengths of time. For Champagne, the ageing period is at least 12 months. For Crémant d’Alsace, it is generally between 9 and 12 months.
This more complex winemaking process, combined with the choice of grape varieties, may explain the difference in taste when comparing Champagne with other sparkling wines.
Champagne is regarded as an exceptional luxury wine and therefore commands a higher price than sparkling wines and other sparkling wines. The cost of grapes is higher in this region. Prices for a bottle of Champagne range from 15 euros to over 100 euros for the most prestigious bottles.
As for Crémants d’Alsace, you can find them at various prices, from a few euros a bottle to around twenty euros. There are many high-quality sparkling wines available at very affordable prices. Some of our sparkling wines have also won awards and been recognised for their finesse. In 2016, our Crémant Grand Prestige Rosé 2014 took a place on the podium at the international competition for the world’s best sparkling wine. The success story of Bestheim’s Crémants d’Alsace continues to unfold every day...
