Wine & cellar advice

Crémant and champagne: what sets them apart

Champagne and crémant are both produced using the traditional method: second fermentation in the bottle.

Geographical area and grape varieties

The difference lies primarily in the geographical area — Champagne comes exclusively from the Champagne appellation, crémant from other regions (Bourgogne, Alsace, Loire, Limoux, among others). Permitted grape varieties vary depending on the crémant area, whereas Champagne relies mainly on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

Aging and pricing

Minimum aging requirements also differ: 15 months for non-vintage Champagne, 12 months for crémant, including 9 months on lees. The price partly reflects this regulatory gap and the reputation of the appellation.

In a blind tasting, a good crémant from Bourgogne or Alsace can surprise with its stylistic proximity to an entry-level Champagne.