Recognized in 1975, the appellation crémant-de-bourgogne replaced the Sparkling wines whose quality was not very homogeneous. Its geographical area, very vast, covers more than 300 communes, of Châtillonnais, with the borders of Champagne auboise, with Beaujolais included. The AOC imposes conditions of harvest and elaboration as strict as those of the Champagne region and copied on this one, the difference residing in the duration of Maturation on lees, which is of nine months minimum, against twelve for the champagne. The Grape varieties used also bring Crémant-de-Bourgogne closer to its illustrious Champagne model, for although all the varieties of the region can be used, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are favoured.
The white Crémant-de-Bourgogne can be blanc de blancs (made from chardonnay, blended or not with Aligoté), blanc de noirs (made from pinot noir vinified as white); it can also be a blend of white grapes and pinot noir and/or gamay vinified as white. The rosé is based on pinot noir, sometimes married to gamay. The Finesse of the blanc de blancs, the Power of the blancs de noirs, the delicacy of the rosés, the crémants-de-bourgogne offer varied profiles.
Gamay is a Burgundian grape variety that has existed since the 14th century. For fear of competition with the pinot noir of Burgundy, gamay was finally uprooted and planted in the Beaujolais region, from Mâcon to Lyon. These siliceous and granitic soils suit it perfectly, and it gives its best here. But it is also planted all over France, such as in Lorraine, in the Loire Valley, in Bugey, in Savoie and in Auvergne. Gamay is early and very productive and needs to be limited so that quality prevails over quantity. Short winter pruning of the shoots and high density of vines per hectare are the methods that allow it to produce very fruity, fresh and greedy red wines. Gamay is also very popular in red wine futures, and produces wines from the Beaujolais region with very interesting character and ageing potential. The AOCs Crémant-de-Bourgogne, Mâcon, Anjou, Touraine, Rosé de vallée de la Loire, Côtes-d'Auvergne, Saint-Pourçain, Bugey, Gaillac, Côtes du Luberon... and many vins de pays are proud of it. Today, about 36,000 hectares of Gamay are cultivated in France, including 22,000 hectares in Beaujolais.
wines from the region of Crémant de Bourgogne go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, poultry or appetizers and snacks such as recipes of soy and shrimp noodles, chicken risotto with curry or fresh sardine rillettes.
On the nose in the region of Crémant de Bourgogne often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, red fruit or citrus and sometimes also flavors of citrus fruit, cream or butter. In the mouth in the region of Crémant de Bourgogne is a powerful with a nice vivacity and a fine and pleasant bubble.
