Why Crémant is back in fashion

A cork eases out, glasses catch the light, and the first sip brings crisp fruit and a delicate fizz. Crémant has always known how to make an entrance. Now this French sparkling wine is finding a fresh audience, with a combination that feels particularly appealing: careful winemaking, a sense of place and a price that can make a good bottle easier to choose.

The renewed interest has substance. According to the Bourgogne Wine Board’s 2025 market report, Crémant de Bourgogne exports to the UK increased by 27% in volume compared with 2024. That is one appellation’s performance, rather than a figure for every Crémant, but it is a striking sign of growing enthusiasm.

There is craft behind the sparkle

Crémant’s appeal starts in the cellar. These wines are made by the traditional method: a second fermentation takes place inside the bottle, creating the bubbles. Time resting on the spent yeast, known as the lees, can add texture and gently bready notes alongside the fruit. The Alsace wine body’s guide to the process explains the patient work behind the finished glass.

For drinkers who enjoy freshness with a little savoury depth, that combination offers plenty to explore. The exact balance depends on the grapes, producer and ageing, so it is worth trying more than one bottle.

A name with places to discover

Crémant opens a door into several French wine regions. Alsace, Bourgogne and the Loire each bring their own grapes and traditions to the style, making the regional name on the label a useful starting point.

Your choice might take you towards the crisp apple and citrus notes of an Alsace wine, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir partnership found in Bourgogne, or a Loire blend with Chenin Blanc at its heart. There are rosés to discover, too. That variety is part of the fun: finding a favourite gives you another reason to explore the next region.

Value that makes sense in the glass

Good value helps explain the attraction. Many Crémants offer an accessible route into bottle-fermented sparkling wine, with enough character to keep an interested wine drinker happy. Our reading of its renewed appeal is simple: a bottle that combines pleasure, provenance and an approachable price fits the way many of us want to shop.

It also feels at home around a relaxed table. Try a dry white Crémant with gougères, smoked salmon or a plate of seafood. For a richer bottle, roast chicken is a lovely pairing to explore. These are wines worth thinking about through a meal, as well as for the opening toast.

A Loire bottle to start with

Our Langlois Chateau Crémant de Loire Brut brings together Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. Expect fine, delicate bubbles, notes of quince, peach and grapefruit, and a fresh finish. It is an inviting introduction to the elegance the Loire can bring to sparkling wine.

Serve it chilled in a tulip-shaped glass or a modest white-wine glass, with room for the aromas to open. Put a few good things on the table and enjoy discovering what is in your glass.

Perhaps that is why Crémant feels so right again: there is real pleasure in discovering a wine with craft, character and a welcoming spirit. Ask the team at The Wine Cellar to help you choose a style for your next gathering.