Supermarket Christmas food 2023 - our ultimate guide to standout festive food including starters, sides and sweet treats Clean and fresh with a creamy mousse but relatively straightforward. Good, sound fizz typical of Limoux.' Peter McCombie – Master of Wine, speaker, consultant and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge It’s best to leave your sparkling wine for around 10 minutes before pouring, as otherwise you’ll stunt the taste and aroma.

Crémant regulations are only slightly less stringent than those in Champagne. The quality found in these wines comes in part from France’s rigorous wine laws. Although regional rules can vary, all Crémant wines must adhere to specific requirements. These include manual harvesting of grapes, whole bunch pressing with limited must extraction (100 liters of juice from 150 kg grapes–think of it as extra virgin olive oil), and a minimum of nine months lees aging. Many wars, unfavorable economical circumstances and keeping of obsolete laws led through the following centuries Alsatian wine next to the depths. This situation recovered after World War I. Helen McGinn – Author, drinks writer, TV presenter and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge Not sure how to tell your crémant from your cava? We explain the key differences between types of sparkling wine – and why some cost more than others – to help you choose what’s best for you. ChampagneIn 2005, it represented 273,733 hectolitres, a new rise of 27.3% in one year and about 36.5 million bottles. Good, clean fizz with a creamy mousse and crisp citrus flavours. Smokey, flinty palate with some apple skin character.'

Simply pour your sparkling wine into a glass a minute or so before you plan on drinking it. This allows the bubbles to settle enough without disappearing completely. 2. Keep it chilled Grapes come from varieties grown within the AOC Alsace area. The allowed varieties are limited to riesling, pinot blanc, pinot noir, pinot gris, auxerrois blanc and chardonnay. Grand Eminent: Minimum 36 months on the lees, only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (with a maximum of 20% Gamay for rosés) permitted, minimum 10% alcohol, brut or drier in style/dosage

Stories from France

So, for starters, What is Cremant? Cremant is a French sparkling wine that is made outside the Champagne wine region. Cremant goes through the same production process as the Champagne called “methode traditionelle”. It is a process where the secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle rather than in a large stainless steel vat or tank, like Prosecco does. The secondary fermentation process gives Cremant its character, forming rich texture and becomes creamier. It is important to remember that Cremant can be made in eight different French wine regions. Each region uses different grape varieties and has a different micro climate which produce different flavours and aromas. For example, Cremant de Loire from the Loire Valley uses primarily Chenin Blanc as the base grape for their style of Cremant which is different to Cremant from Alsace referenced above. If you’re looking for the champagne experience for less, a good crémant usually fits the bill. Prosecco

Unlike champagne, cava and crémant, prosecco completes its secondary fermentation in a pressurised stainless steel tank. The predominant use of Chenin Blanc lends these high-quality wines unique flavors of lemon, quince, pear, honey, and chamomile. Although many grapes are allowed in Crémant production here, the star of the Central Vineyards of the Loire, Sauvignon Blanc, is not. If you want to try a Sauvignon Blanc-based Crémant, you’ll have to look to Bordeaux, the only appellation that permits its use in the mix. It has been elegantly debated with a great deal of historic rigor that Limoux – not Champagne – was the first region in France to produce sparkling wine. That said, if you ask an English person who invented bubbly, they’ll tell you, with equally convincing fervor, that is was them. If you ask us, we say “Thank you!” and “Salut!” to all three! Cava is made in the same way as champagne, undergoing secondary fermentation in the bottle, but is produced in Spain.There are eight French Crémant appellations, each creating a distinctive style. If you're shopping for Crémant in the supermarket, there are a few varieties you'll likely find.