…None of the fuss: Cremant. Is it the best Champagne alternative?
Penny Sharp is a WSET level 3 qualified wine specialist with over four years in the drinks industry. Passionate that wine doesn’t have to be stuffy or pretentious, the key factor, according to Penny, is whether you enjoy what you are drinking.
My years of working in the wine trade has taught me that, great wine doesn’t have to come with a large price tag and that some of the best wine regions on the market are those lesser known or appreciated. I have compiled a ‘cheat sheet’ of underappreciated regions and fantastic bargains available locally, which will no doubt impress your dinner guests and keep you ahead of the curve on delicious wines that deserve to be celebrated without breaking the bank.
Personally, I am partial to a great glass of fizz, the more biscuit-y and rich the better. Despite Champagne dominating as the big name in sparkling wine for good reason, great fizz doesn’t need to come with the traditionally high (and ever rising) prices of Champagne.
Let’s Talk About Cremant
When I first started working in the wine trade, I was blown away at the quality and value of Crémant, yet in a market dominated by prosecco and cava, nobody seemed to be taking notice. Crémant, unlike other sparkling wine equivalents, is produced using the same process as Champagne. It uses the traditional double fermentation method but with the one key difference: it can be produced anywhere in France outside of the Champagne region. By moving production and grape growing to slightly less prestigious areas, this dramatically reduces production costs and allows for a much more budget-friendly price tag for a sparkling wine of equivalent, or even better, quality.
A recent personal favourite has been ‘Domaine Moutard NV Méthode Traditionnelle Brut Blanc de Blancs’ (£16, The Good Spirits Co. ) With zippy bubbles and fresh notes of pear drop and lemon sherbet whilst maintaining a creamy texture throughout. It is a beautiful example of sparkling wine, with grapes being grown and harvested in Tonnerre, near Chablis. The grapes are then taken to Domaine Moutard’s production site in Côte des Bar, within the Champagne region, leading to a grey area in terms of classification as it then cannot be recognised as either a Crémant or Champagne. Regardless of classification, for the £16 price tag, it is an absolutely delicious traditional method sparkling option that remains budget friendly.
Another of my all-time favourite fizz bargains is: Jean-Noël Haton ‘Classic’ Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne (£23-£26, Majestic Wine). It has morish notes of fresh pastry and brioche, whilst maintaining a fresh acidity and fine, gentle bubbles throughout. In my opinion, Haton are one of the most underappreciated producers in the Champagne region; the house has been producing Champagne since the 16th century and has a deep-rooted commitment to producing high quality champagne while ensuring they act with respect to the land and historic production processes. At that price tag, it is undoubtedly worthy of any occasion!
