Traditional Method Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wines produced using the traditional method, also known as the Champagne method, are premium-quality sparkling wines. They follow a specific production process that guarantees fine bubbles and unmatched aromatic elegance. This method, used to produce the famous Champagnes, is also adopted by many other French appellations in the making of Crémant. Discover our selection of sparkling wines carefully crafted with passion, following this traditional method.

The traditional method: a unique expertise

The traditional method involves a second fermentation in the bottle, a key step that creates the fine bubbles characteristic of these wines. After the initial fermentation in a vat, a liqueur de tirage (a mixture of wine, sugar, and yeasts) is added to the wine before it is bottled. It is during this second fermentation (which takes place in the bottle) that carbon dioxide naturally forms, creating the effervescence. This process is followed by long aging on the lees to enrich the aromas and provide great complexity on the palate.

Prestigious appellations using the Champagne method

While Champagne is the most iconic appellation for this method, other French wine regions also produce sparkling wines of great finesse. Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant de Loire, Crémant d’Alsace, and Crémant du Jura are particularly appreciated for their excellent value for money. These sparkling wines, often made from the same noble grape varieties as Champagne, such as Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, offer a variety of profiles, ranging from floral and fruity aromas to more brioche and toasted notes.

Why choose a sparkling wine made using the traditional method?

Wines made using the traditional method stand out for their delicate bubbles, aromatic complexity, and freshness. Whether it's to celebrate a special event, accompany seafood, or simply for a craving for bubbles, these cuvées are sure to delight your taste buds. Enjoy our selection of sparkling wines made using the traditional method, delivered directly from the winery or château of your choice.

Frequently asked questions about the traditional method

What is the difference between the traditional method and the Champagne method?

Technically none: it is the same process, a second fermentation in the bottle. The difference is legal. Since the 1990s the term "méthode champenoise" has been reserved within the European Union for Champagne alone. Every other sparkling wine made the same way, Crémant included, must say "traditional method". If you still see "Champagne method" on a label from outside Champagne, it is either an old bottle or a mistake.

Is Crémant inferior to Champagne?

It is made in exactly the same way, often from the same grapes, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. What differs is the terroir and the time spent ageing on the lees: nine months minimum for a Crémant, fifteen for a non-vintage Champagne. Champagne gains brioche notes and tension from that extra time. A good grower Crémant delivers the same fine bubbles for considerably less, which is why it is what most people open when they want bubbles without making an occasion of it.

Why does the second fermentation take place in the bottle?

Because that is what makes the bubbles fine. The carbon dioxide produced by the yeasts stays trapped in the glass and dissolves slowly into the wine, under pressure, over months. Industrial methods carry out the second fermentation in a tank, which is far quicker but produces larger, shorter-lived bubbles. It is a difference you notice in the first glass.

How long can you keep a bottle of Crémant?

Three to four years from purchase for most cuvées, which are built to be drunk young and fruit-forward. Crémants that spent two or three years on the lees at the estate will last longer and develop brioche and dried-fruit notes. Store the bottles lying down, away from light, at around 12°C: light is the worst enemy of sparkling wine.