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 The
word “Crémant” is, by French standards a new word. It is
part of an AOC designation (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée)
which refers to sparkling wine made outside the region of
Champagne but which use the ‘methode-traditionelle’ (the
Champagne method) in their production.
The AOC of Crémant
d’Alsace was created in 1976 along with Crémant de
Bourgogne; Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Limoux,
and Crémant de Bordeaux soon followed. Sparkling wine
varieties, or vins Mousseaux, had been made in all of
these regions in the past but without regulated methods they
were often inconsistent or downright poor.
The creation of the
AOC Crémant established rules of production as strict as
the ones followed in Champagne and the wines, quickly,
dramatically improved. If they are, perhaps, not as exceptional
a product as Grand Cru Champagnes, they are made with care, are
quite delicious, and remain reasonably priced.
In addition
to our namesake sparkling wines,
offers a list of table wines that is in perfect harmony with the
cuisine, which is to say, those wines most customary to the
bistro table. They are carefully selected by the maitre d’ and
only earn their place after proving not only their good value,
but that they faithfully represent their region of origin. All
are offered by the glass and the bottle.
The ‘Maitre
d’s List’ available upon request, contains wines encountered
and very much admired, but which could not appear on the regular
list due to limited quantity or prices uncommon to a bistro
setting.
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