Unless sparkling wine is from the Champagne region of France, with some minor exceptions, the wine can not legally be called 'Champagne'. Cremant is a French style of sparkling wine which is made using the same methods as those used to make Champagne. It is a style that is widely available all over France including the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and the Alsace. This Cremant is from the southwestern French region of Limoux. In fact, Limoux is the region which first successfully developed commercially viable sparkling wine, well before Champagne started to make its mark. This highly effervescent bubbly is a blend of 90% Chardonnay the other 10% is a mix of Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc. It has notes of honey, baguette and lemon zest. Serve on its own as an aperitif or try it with egg based dishes such as quiche, it also pairs well with deep fried or fatty foods such as tempura, soft cheeses or creamy desserts.
