Cremant De Bourgogne (Styles, 10 Best Bottles, Prices)

Cremant de Bourgogne is an appellation in Burgundy that produces sparkling white and Rose wines. 

This appellation covers sparkling wine made only in Burgundy.

They’re made mainly with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes and have flavors ranging from refreshing citrus fruit to juicy dark berries.

In this article, we’ll explore the four exciting Cremant De Bourgogne styles, the 10 best bottles, food pairing and serving suggestions, and the Cremant De Bourgogne vineyards and terroir. We’ll also cover some other interesting facts about the appellation.

The Four Fascinating Cremant De Bourgogne Styles

The Cremant de Bourgogne wine-producing region is situated slightly south of the Champagne region in France. 

But is Cremant de Bourgogne as good as Champagne?

Although Cremant wines are more affordable, they’re still a high-quality alternative to Champagne. 

Cremant de Bourgogne wines contain mostly Pinot Noir and at least 30% Chardonnay grapes. Other grape varieties like Gamay, Aligoté, Melon, and Sacy can be used in small percentages. 

Here are the four delicious Cremant De Bourgogne styles:

• Blanc: This sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
• Blanc de Blancs: This is a sparkling white wine made from mainly the Chardonnay grape variety and a small proportion of the other permitted white grapes.
• Blanc de Noirs: This sparkling wine is made from the clear juice of Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir, which is blended with a small amount of white wine. 
• Rose: This sparkling Rose wine is made from the Pinot Noir grape variety. Sometimes a small amount of Gamay (20% maximum) is added. 

10 Best Cremant De Bourgogne Bottles

Here are ten Cremant de Bourgogne bottles, along with their tasting note descriptions and prices:

• 2014 Jean-Noel Gagnard - Caroline Lestime Cremant de Bourgogne Grand Lys 
• 2018 Domaine Celine et Laurent Tripoz Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Nature 
• 2014 Bailly-Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne Vive-la-Joie Blanc Brut 
• 2016 Maison Louis Picamelot Cremant de Bourgogne En Chazot Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 
• 2016 Bailly-Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne Rose Brut
• 2018 Chartron et Trebuchet Cremant de Bourgogne Pinot Noir Brut
• Domaine Anne Gros Cremant de Bourgogne La Fun en Bulles Brut
• 2018 Maison Parigot & Richard Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs 
• Vincent Dureuil-Janthial Cremant de Bourgogne Brut 
• Veuve Ambal Cremant de Bourgogne Grande Cuvee Brut

1. 2014 Jean-Noel Gagnard - Caroline Lestime Cremant de Bourgogne Grand Lys ($52)

This is a fine wine with delicious minty pepper and citrus fruit aromas. The palate has refreshing fine bubbles and an apple flavor with a touch of yeast. 

2. 2018 Domaine Celine et Laurent Tripoz Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Nature ($26)

The 2018 vintage of Celine et Laurent Tripozis has bright yellow color and bursts open with fine bubbles. You’ll also notice toasted almond notes and delicious grapefruit, apple, and lemon flavours. 

3. 2014 Bailly-Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne Vive-la-Joie Blanc Brut ($23)

This fresh Cremant opens with a bouquet of soft bubbles and white peach aromas. The palate has apple and pear flavours with a hint of yeast. 

4. 2016 Maison Louis Picamelot Cremant de Bourgogne En Chazot Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut ($16)

This French sparkling wine has a light pink tint and aromatic lemon curd, yeast, and red currant notes. The palate is filled with creamy richness and a hint of minerality. 

5. 2016 Bailly-Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne Rose Brut ($20)

Produced predominantly with the Pinot Noir grape variety and some Gamay, this vintage sparkler offers red cherry and strawberry aromas. The palate has fruity freshness and powerful watermelon and red fruit flavors. 

6. 2018 Chartron et Trebuchet Cremant de Bourgogne Pinot Noir Brut ($15)

This French sparkling wine bursts open with flavors of raspberries, cranberries, and strawberries. The wine’s sweet fruit notes and yeast flavor ensure that it pairs exquisitely with appetizers and snacks. 

7. Domaine Anne Gros Cremant de Bourgogne La Fun en Bulles Brut ($26)

Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, this fine wine has white peach, green apple, and lemon aromas. On the palate, you’ll notice some fruity richness and powerful pear and brioche flavors.

8. 2018 Maison Parigot & Richard Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs ($25)

This sparkling white wine has soft bubbles and an aromatic nose of nuts, yeast, and peaches. The palate has a lot of acidic freshness and intense green apple and brioche flavors. 

9. Vincent Dureuil-Janthial Cremant de Bourgogne Brut ($20)

Produced in the Côte Chalonnaise appellation, this fresh Cremant has pleasant bubbles and a honeyed apple aroma. The palate’s sweet fruit notes pair excellently with oysters. 

10. Veuve Ambal Cremant de Bourgogne Grande Cuvee Brut ($18)

The Veuve Ambal Cremant has powerful creamy brioche aromas. The crisp palate has a pleasant citrus acidity and stone fruit notes. 

Cremant De Bourgogne Food Pairing And Serving Suggestions

Here are some food pairing recommendations for the different Cremant de Bourgogne styles:

• Blanc: Pair this sparkling wine style with stewed poultry with pears and dried fruits.
• Blanc de Blancs: This style pairs excellently with scallops and river fish.
• Blanc de Noirs: This sparkler is a splendid match with braised oxtail and snails with potatoes.
• Rose: The Rose style can be enjoyed as a dessert wine or alongside ice cream, pastries, and red-fruit sorbet.

Aim for a serving temperature of 42–48°F if you want to pair the sparkler with a main meal. 

If you want to enjoy your Cremant De Bourgogne before or after dinner, serve it at 39–46°F. 

You should serve Crémant wines in Champagne flute glasses to preserve the wine’s aromatic intensity and crisp bubbles.

The Cremant De Bourgogne Vineyards And Terroir

The Cremant de Bourgogne vineyards are located in Burgundy, south of the Champagne region.

The appellation has four different departments that consist of 384 communes:

• Department of Yonne: 54 communes
• Department of Côte d’Or: 91communes
• Department of Saône et Loire: 154 communes
• Department of Rhône: 85 communes

However, Cremant de Bourgogne production happens mainly in the northern area of Auxerre (Chablis) and further south in Rully (Côte Chalonnaise).

The grapes grow in various soils, including the chalky subsoil of the Joigny district, the granites of southern Bourgogne, and the limestones and marls of the Côtes.

The climate in the area is mainly temperate, with a decent amount of sunshine, rainfall, and northerly winds. All these factors have a positive influence on vine growing. 

Other Interesting Facts About Cremant De Bourgogne

Here are a few other fascinating facts about Cremant De Bourgogne:

What is the history behind Cremant De Bourgogne?

Production of Cremant De Bourgogne started at the beginning of the 19th century at Chablis, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Rully, and Tonnerre. 

These sparkling wines became popular after appearing in one of Alfred de Musset’s poems in 1830 – Secrètes pensées de Raphaël.

In October 1975, the Cremant De Bourgogne appellation was granted AOC status and adopted strict wine-making regulations where only white and Rose wines are permitted.

How is Cremant de Bourgogne made?

Cremant de Bourgogne is produced using the traditional method or Méthode Champenoise, where the second fermentation takes place directly in the bottle.

Here are the steps in the Cremant de Bourgogne wine-making process:

• Pressing: Once the grapes have been manually harvested, they are pressed using an inflated bladder press. 
• Primary fermentation: The initial fermentation happens in stainless steel tanks or wood and results in a highly acidic base wine. 
• Secondary fermentation: During the second fermentation, the base wine and a mixture of liqueur de tirage (sugar and yeast) are bottled for approximately three weeks. The yeast feeds on the sugar, creating alcohol and carbon dioxide as a byproduct. 
• Bottling and aging: The Cremant rests on laths for a minimum of 12 months while the bubbles form. The leftover yeast and lees are then removed, and the wine’s cork is placed in the bottle. 

What are the Cremant De Bourgogne Eminent and Grand Eminent denominations?

The Eminent and Grand Eminent categories were introduced in 2013 to boost the quality of the appellation’s wines. 

The Crémant de Bourgogne Eminent category requires the wines to be aged for a minimum of 24 months in the bottle.

The Grand Eminent requirements are more strict. To be granted Grand Eminent status, winemakers need to adhere to the following:

• The wines should be aged for a minimum of 36 months.
• Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the only grape varieties allowed, but Rose wines can contain up to 20% of Gamay.
• The alcohol content should be at least 10%.
• The residual sugar must be below 15g/L (Brut)

Sip On A Delicious Glass Of Cremant De Bourgogne Today

The Cremant de Bourgogne appellation produces a wide range of sparklers that can be enjoyed alongside casual brunches and formal events. However, most bottles are made for consumption upon release. 

If you’re looking for more investment-worthy wines, check out the Vinovest website. 

With the help of Vinovest’s experts, you can buy,sell, and store any fine white or red wine with ease!