Crémant de Bourgogne: 10 Burgundian fizz that tickle the tastebuds

French sparkling wines designated as Crémant are produced using the traditional method as practised in Champagne, involving a second fermentation in the bottle, and Crémant de Bourgogne is the leading example in this important sector.

Across France, more than 100 million bottles of Crémant are produced each year, in eight regions: Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Die (in the Rhône), Jura, Limoux, Loire and Savoie.

Crémant de Bourgogne is the closest in style to Champagne, mainly due to the use of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as the key varieties (although Aligoté plays a significant role in many blends).

Scroll down for 10 top Crémant de Bourgogne

Appellation rules also permit the use of Gamay (up to a maximum of 20%) as well as Melon and Sacy, although the last two are rarely encountered.

Crémant de Bourgogne is produced over a vast geographical area, ranging from the Yonne department in the north, through the Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais to Beaujolais in the south.

Annual production in 2023, according to the national growers’ and producers’ association, was nearly 33.9m bottles, with 46% exported.

Latitude plays a role in determining style, with the wines produced further south having a slightly riper, softer feel to them.

The Crémants from Grand Auxerrois, around Chablis, are grown in similar conditions of climate and geological structure to those of the Aube region in Champagne, not surprisingly resulting in wines with freshness and mineral characters to the fore.

Estates pushing quality

Achieving appellation status in 1975, Crémant de Bourgogne has long been dominated by important (and high-quality) cooperative wineries such as those in Prissé, Lugny and Viré in Burgundy’s south.

Further north, in the Grand Auxerrois, the driving force has been Caves Bailly Lapierre, based in underground cellars that historically were a quarry that supplied stone for the Pantheon in Paris, as well as providing secure housing for German Messerschmitt fighter aircraft during World War II.

Although these larger producers make good- quality sparkling wines, it could be argued that some Crémant de Bourgogne lacks the individuality and excitement of the best Champagne.

In recent years, more estate Crémants (often vintage-specific) have been produced and these are undoubtedly raising the bar.

Look out for wines from Clotilde Davenne in the Auxerrois, Domaine Stéphane Aladame and Famille Vincent (Château Fuissé) in the Chalonnaise/Mâconnais, and Domaine Jean-Noël

Gagnard in the Côte d’Or.

Today, Crémant de Bourgogne is an exciting category with a lot of change taking place, making this a great time to explore the wines.

Andy’s top 10 Crémant de Bourgogne picks

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