Cremant Flashcards
1
Q
When and why was “Cremant” introduced?
A
In 1985, EU banned the term methode champenoise as a description for making traditional method sparkling wines; therefore cremant emerged as the name for traditional method sparkling wines made outside of Champagne
2
Q
How many Cremant Appellations?
A
8 - major ones are Alsace, Bourgogne, Loire (AOC Saumur and AOC Vouvray subregions)
3
Q
6 common features of all Cremant wines
A
- Hand harvesting and whole bunch pressing
- Max yield at pressing = 100 litres per 150kg of grapes
- Minimum 9 mos aging on the lees during 2nd fermentation in the bottle
- Minimum 12 mos maturation between tirage and release (includes 9 mos aging on the lees above)
- Max 13% abv in finished wine
- Minimum 4 atmospheres pressure
4
Q
Cremant d’Alsace - Overview, Varieties, Style
A
- 25% of Alsace wines are Cremant
- Pinot Blanc most important
- Other varieties = Auxerriois, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
- only Cremant region that allows Chardonnay (albeit only 1% of total vineyard area)
- Rose can only be made from Pinot Noir
- most wines made in Brut style
- wines are typically vintage in practice (no reserve wine used)
- 43% coops, 37% merchants, 20% indépendant growers
5
Q
Pinot Blanc
A
- usually grown on lower elevations on the more fertile valleys that are not suited for high quality still wine grapes
- also grown on some cool sites in higher valleys where grapes for still wines would struggle to ripen
- early budding (vulnerable to spring frost)
- early ripening
- prone to fungal diseases
- contributes pear and apple aromas and high acid
6
Q
Cremant d’Alsace Emotion
A
- launched in 2012 to create a top quality category for Alsace sparkling wine
- minimum 75% Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- minimum 34 months on lees
- category hasn’t really proved popular
7
Q
Cremant de Bourgogne - Overview, Varieties, Style
A
- Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- 10% of Burgundy wines are Cremant
- most are white wines in Brut style
- apple and lemon fruit (cooler areas) to apricot (warmer areas) with brioche autolytic notes\
- grapes sourced from cooler and/or cheaper areas
- max yield for Cremant is 75hL/ha (significantly higher than the still wines of Burgundy)
- 2/3 merchant houses, 30% coop, 2% independant growers
8
Q
Cremant de Bourgogne - Styles
A
- Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc - minimum 30% Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris and max amount of Gamay permitted is 20%
- Blanc de Blancs - only white varieties
- Blanc de Noir - only Pinot Noir
- Rose - dominated by Pinot Noir but Gamay is permitted to help with color
- Eminent - additional lees aging requirement of minimum 24 mos
- Grand Eminent - brut only, minimum 36 mos on lees and 3 mos in bottle before release, vintage optional but common, whites = Pinot Noir and Chard only, Rose = only 20% gamay allowed
9
Q
Loire Valley Sparkling Overview
A
- 7 sparkling appellations (Cremant de Loire, Vouvray, Saumur most important)
- sparkling accounts for 13% of Loire wines
- 90% white (Chenin dominant)
- other varieties = Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Grolleau Noir and Gris, Pineau d’Aunis, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- Sauv Blanc not allowed in Cremant d’Loire
- most in Brut style but Demi-Sec also made
- Brut Nature increasingly popular
- grown in the middle Loire - Anjou Saumur and Touraine only
- max yield of 74 hL/ha
- producers declare in July if making Cremant
- 9 large houses account for 80% of production
10
Q
Prestige de Loire
A
- top tier category launched in 2018
- applies to all appelations
- must be white only, made from Chenin Blanc, Cab Franc, Chardonnay and/or Pinot Noir
- minimum 24 mos lees aging
- must be Brut
- must be Vintage dated
- must also achieve a set of environmental standards aiming at sustainable viticulture within 5 years
11
Q
Saumur Mousseux
A
- wines must be a minimum of 60% Chenin Blanc with a max of 10% Sauvignon Blanc
- Rose wines must be minimum 60% Cab Franc with a max of 10% Sauvignon Blanc
- Mechanical harvest is allowed for Cremant
12
Q
Vouvray Mousseaux
A
- Chenin Blanc must make up majority of blend (often 100%)
- Orbois also allowed but must be minority of blend
