SPARKLING
WINE 101
Want to learn about sparkling wines but have no idea where to start? How about taking a look at the map below and have some general idea about various wine regions in France that produces sparkling wines?!
South West (Sud-Ouest) :
The South West is the 5th largest wine region of France. The area is filled with hidden gems and breath-taking scenery despite being a lesser-known wine region in France.
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Sparkling wine: Gaillac Mousseux
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Méthode tradtionnelle (white)
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Méthode Ancestrale (White, Red, Rosé)
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South West (Sud-Ouest) :
The South West is the 5th largest wine region of France. The area is filled with hidden gems and breath-taking scenery despite being a lesser-known wine region in France.
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Sparkling wine: Gaillac Mousseux
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Méthode tradtionnelle (white)
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Méthode Ancestrale (White, Red, Rosé)
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South West
Champagne :
Home to one of the most well-known sparkling wines in the world, Champagne region has a highly original terroir whose unique combination of climate, soil and topography produces equally remarkable wines. Among the 15,000 vine-growers owning roughly 90% of the vineyards, 5,000 Champagne producers have been crafting wines for generations.
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Sparkling wines:
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Champagne (White or rosé with méthode traditionnelle)
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Champagne
Bordeaux :
Bordeaux is the most extensive fine-wine producing region in the world, with over 120,000 hectares under vine. It owes its enviable international reputation to the quality of its wines.
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Sparkling wines:
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Crémant de Bordeaux (white & rosé) with traditional method
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Bordeaux
Rhone Valley :
Located in southeastern France, the 150 mile-Rhône Valley follows the North to South course of the Rhône River, from Lyon to the Mediterranean Sea. There are 2 major areas (Northern and Southern Rhone) in the vally, of which the styles and varietal composition differ.
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Sparkling wines:
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Saint-Péray, Crémant de Die, Clairette de Bellegarde Pétillant (White with méthode traditionnelle)
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Clairette de Die (white, red or rosé with méthode ancestrale)
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Rhone Valley
Provence :
A land with over 2600 years of wine-making history, Provence is the oldest wine producing in France which is also known for their dedication to rosé wine. Rosé account for 88% of provençal wines and it is the only place where they have a rosé research centre!
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Sparkling wines:
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Rosé with traditional method
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Provence
Jura-Savoie :
Situated between Burgundy and Switzerland, Jura region is gifted with a great variety of terroirs which contributed to the production of some impressive wines including vin jaune. Its neighbor Savoie region is also a lesser-known region to international market. White wines accounts for more than 70% of wine production in the region as its cool climate hinders the growth of red grape varieties.
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Sparkling wines:
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Jura: Crémant de jura (white or rosé with méthode traditionnelle)
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Savoie: Savoie Ayze, Seyssel, Crémant de Savoie (white with méthode traditionnelle)
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Jura-Savoie
Burgundy (Bourgogne) :
With 29,500 hectares of vines in production across 3 departments and 5 wine growing regions, Burgundy is known for its terroir-driven wine-making approach and possess more than 100 AOC appellations, divided into 4 levels of quality: Grand Cru, Premier Cru, Village wines and Regional appellation wines.
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Sparkling wines:
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Crémant de Bourgogne (white or rosé with méthode traditionelle)
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Bourgogne Mousseux (white, red or rosé with méthode ancestrale)
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Burgundy
Alsace :
Sheltered from oceanic influence by the Vosges Mountains, Alsace wine region enjoys one of the lowest rainfall in France (only 500-600mm/year) and is blessed with a semi-continental climate, being sunny, hot and dry. These specific advantages of the Alsace vineyards favour a slow, extended ripening of the grapes, resulting in wines with very elegant, complex aromas.
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Sparkling wines:
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Crémant d'Alsace (white or rosé with méthode traditionnelle)
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Alsace
Loire Valley:
Loire Valley vineyards cover the local landscape with vines all along the Loire from Sancerre to the Atlantic Ocean, in the Western part of France. Famous wines such as Saumur, Chinon, Muscadet, Layon and Vouvray are produced in abundance here.
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Sparkling wines: Vouray, Montlouis, Saumur (White), Crémant de Loire (White & Rosé with Méthode Traditionnelle
Loire Valley
Languedoc-Roussillon :
Languedoc-Roussillon vineyard winds along the Mediterranean Sea, touching 4 departments: Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault and the Gard. Embraced by the Mediterranean climate, the vines are comfortably enfolded by its dry and wind-swept soils.
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Sparkling wines:
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Crémont de Limoux (white or rosé with traditional method)
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Blanquette de Limoux (white with traditional method), (white, red or rosé with ancestral method)
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