crémant

French · EU-reserved quality sparkling term

Crémant is an EU-reserved term for white or rosé PDO quality sparkling wines made by the traditional method from hand-harvested grapes, with at most 100 L of must per 150 kg, SO2 at most 150 mg/L and sugar under 50 g/L.1

The term is shown with the name of the geographical unit, so it appears as part of names such as Crémant de Loire, Crémant d'Alsace or Crémant de Luxembourg.2 Outside France it is used too: a German Sekt b.A. may be called Crémant only if it meets the EU conditions, names the PDO and uses the prescribed bottle.3 The production method behind it is the traditional method, with second fermentation in bottle and at least nine months on lees.1 See also SO2 limit and France.

See also

Traditional methodMethodsCrémant de LoireRegionsCrémant d'AlsaceRegionssulphur dioxide limitGlossary

Sources

  1. legislation.gov.uk (copy of EU OJ text). Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33, Article 53 (terms referring to certain production methods), original version as adopted (2018-10-17)
  2. EUR-Lex. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (consolidated text), Articles 47, 48, 49, 53, 54 and Annex III Part A (2023-12-08)
  3. Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de). Weinverordnung (WeinV) § 34a Crémant, Winzersekt

Facts checked on 2026-10-19