Crémant Bestheim, from vine to store
Crémant is one of Alsace's finest wines, the result of meticulous work from vine to bottle. It is enjoyed as an aperitif, and goes wonderfully with desserts. In Alsace, Crémant is a must.
Discover the 6 stages of Crémant Bestheim production. An odyssey of know-how and passion awaits you.
1. the vine: it all starts with a good terroir
Experience has shown us how to make Crémant: a rich, sunny terroir combined with a semi-continental climate.
The grape varieties used for Crémant are Pinot Blanca tender, powerful Alsace wine, and Chardonnay .
We also offer a Crémant rosé made from our best parcels of Pinot Noir.
2 Harvesting: a meticulous selection process
Viticultural practices play a crucial role. For a Crémant AOC, hand-picking is mandatory to select the best grapes.
From the very first stages of production, nature and man combine forces!
3: Vinification according to the rules of the art
We use the traditional Champagne method for fermentation:
- First fermentation in vats,
- Blending of grape varieties,
- Second fermentation in the bottle for sparkling.
Tip: bottle riddling ensures perfect effervescence.
4. aging takes its time
The AOC sets a minimum ageing period of 12 months. At Bestheim, we always go beyond 18 months.
Letting the wine mature allows its aromas and complexity to develop.
What happens during aging on lees? The yeasts that develop in the bottle (the lees) autolyze, releasing molecules that add character to the wine.
The record is held by our Crémant Grand Prestige millésimé, aged on lees for 4 years! Its terroir: the Strangenberg hillsides benefit from a humid micro-climate that encourages the growth of remarkable flora.
Discover Crémant Grand Prestige
5. disgorging and dosage: the final touch on an exceptional journey
The Crémant undergoes a disgorging process to expel deposits.
We then add liqueur d'expédition to balance the Crémant and define its style (brut, demi-sec, etc.).
This enables us to obtain a Crémant Brut Premiumfrom our best Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois plots, with 6 grams of sugar added at disgorgement.
And a Crémant d'Alsace demi-sec with a more pronounced dosage.
6 From cellar to store: ready for tasting
Last step: the bottles are packaged and shipped to be made available in our our boutiques (Bennwihr, Westhalten, Kaysersberg) and in the shops.
In the boutique, we'll help you discover our cuvées and choose the ones best suited to the occasion.
Come and meet us and taste our authentic, prestigious Crémants , as well as our most extravagant , original collections.
