5 Crémant the Bourgogne

Question 1

Name the main grape varieties used for Crémant de Bourgogne

Answer 1

• Chardonnay

- Pinot Noir

Question 2

Which production amount has Crémant de Bourgogne in Burgundy?

Answer 2

about 10%

Question 3

How has the production size changed since 2000?

Answer 3

it has more than doubled

Question 4

How big is the production size of Crémant de Bourgogne?

Answer 4

170.000hl (average production 2014-2018)

Question 5

Describe the style of a Crémant de Bourgogne

Answer 5

• medium intensity
• apple and lemon aromas (cooler areas)
• apricot aromas (warmer areas)
• brioche autolytic notes

Question 6

Which types of Crémant de Bourgogne were produced?

Answer 6

• standard white sparkling
• Blanc de Blanc
• Blanc de Noir
• rosé

Question 7

Name the departéments fruit can be sourced from

Answer 7

• Yonne (Chablis)
• Côte d’Or (Côte d’Or)
• Saône-et-Loire (Chalonnais, Mâconnais)
• Rhone (Beaujolais)

Question 8

How long is the north to south distance?

Answer 8

250km

Question 9

Name the main regions where grapes for Crémant de Bourgogne are sourced

Answer 9

• Mâconnais (especially Chardonnay)
• Côte Calonnaise (especially around Rully)
• Beaujolais
• around Chablis (Yonne department)
• Châtillon-sur-Seine (south of the Champagne)
• Hautes Côtes de Beaune
• Hautes Côte de Nuits
• flatland vineyards on the Côte d’Or

cooler areas (better suited for sparkling wine grapes) and/or cheaper vineyard areas in the Burgundy appellation

Question 10

When must the growers declare to use the vineyard for Crémant de Bourgogne?

Answer 10

March (end of winter when decisions about pruning have been made)

Question 11

Name the allowed grape varieties used for Crémant de Bourgogne

Answer 11

• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Blanc
• Pinot Gris
• Gamay
• Aligoté
• Melon

Question 12

Which grape varieties has to be in the blend for an amount of min. 30%

Answer 12

alone or in the blend

• Chardonnay (typically main part)
• Pinot Noir (typically main part)
• Pinot Blanc
• Pinot Gris

Question 13

What is the max. amount of Gamay in Crémant de Bourgogne?

Answer 13

max. 20%

Question 14

Which grape varieties is only allowed in Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noir?

Answer 14

Pinot Noir

Question 15

Which grape varieties are used for Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé?

Answer 15

• Pinot Noir (main part)

- Gamay (small allowed amount)

Question 16

Which are the main regulations of the AOC Crémant de Bourgogne?

Answer 16

• grape variety
• yield
• time on lees

Question 17

How is the production divided between merchant houses, co-operatives and independent growers?

Answer 17

• merchant houses: 68%
• co-operatives: 30%
• independent growers: 2%

Question 18

How can independent grower produce Crémant de Bourgogne without investing in an expensive sparkling wine production?

Answer 18

they bring their grapes to specialised sparkling wine produce and receiving the finished bottles back to sell

Question 19

How much rose the production of Crémant de Bourgognein the last decade?

Answer 19

around 30%

Question 20

Which volume are produced by the top ten companies?

Answer 20

90%

Question 21

Which amount has the export?

Answer 21

40%

Question 22

Which are the top export markets?

Answer 22

top markets:

• USA
• Sweden

growing markets:

• UK
• Belgium
• Germany

Question 23

What is the additional requirement of Crémant de Bourgogne Eminent?

Answer 23

24 month of lees aging

Question 24

Which requirements has the Crémant de Bourgogne Grand Eminent?

Answer 24

• for whites: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay only
• for rosé wines only, 20 per cent of Gamay is allowed
• a vintage is optional, but is commonly used
• a minimum of 36 months’ lees ageing and three months in the bottle before release
• Brut designation only

Question 25

Why is it challenging for Crémant producers to get grapes?

Answer 25

• small harvest due to hail and frost
• rising prices for still wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can reduce the availability of grapes for Crémant (e.g. Rully the centre of Crémant production can get higher prices for still wines