Meet Crémant: The French Sparkling Wine Rivalling Prosecco

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The Tuesday after a four day weekend is probably the last time you’d want to be thinking about any sort of alcohol.

But we’re here to talk about a sparkling wine that may soon be just as popular as prosecco, so it might be worth your time to listen.

Crément is a French sparkling wine made using the same traditional technique as champagne, but outside of the Champagne region. It undergoes a double fermentation process, and has a crisp, citrusy flavour with a delicate touch of red apples and vanilla.

The wine has long been a cheaper alternative to champagne but has never achieved the same cult status as prosecco here and in the UK… that is, until, now. Potentially.

According to The Grocer, sales of crémant are up almost 50% in some shops in the UK, as purchases of champagne drop amidst the cost of living crisis.

In Waitrose, sales of crément have increased by 51%, while in M&S there’s been a 47% jump compared to last year. That’s not nothing.

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“Champagne will always be the icon of the sparkling world,” says Waitrose wine buyer Alexandra Mawson. “But recent pressures on household finances have meant customers have looked to crémant as a great value alternative.

“More people are now aware of this French sparkling wine, which is produced using the same method as champagne but doesn’t hold the same price tag, as it’s made outside of Champagne with less restrictive ageing regulations.”

But what about good ol’ reliable prosecco? What about the bottomless brunches? What about the drinks that come straight out of taps and a lot of the time taste questionable enough?

Well, as it turns out, prosecco can’t even really be classed as a champagne dupe due to the way it’s made.

The grapes are fermented first to create wine, and then fermented a second time in a steel tank to give it its bubbles. Prosecco is mostly made in Italy and exported around Europe, whereas champagne needs to be made in Champagne. Crémant, on the other hand, is generally made in other French regions outside of Champagne.

Crémant doesn’t appear to be as budget friendly here in Ireland as it seems to be in the UK, but prices are still fairly reasonable starting at around €15 and reaching as high as €32 for a bottle.

Still cheaper than Bollinger, to be fair.

• Wine