2018 Crémant Alsace, D'alsace France Brut Recipe

1. Chill the bottle

Place the 2018 Crémant d'Alsace Brut in an ice bath: fill a bucket or large container with 2 cups of ice and about 1 liter of cold water. Submerge the bottle and let it chill for 20–30 minutes until the bottle exterior feels very cold (approximately 6–8°C / 43–46°F). If placed in a refrigerator, chill upright for at least 3–4 hours prior to serving.

2. Prepare glassware

Rinse 6 sparkling wine flutes with cold water and dry with a clean towel or allow them to air-dry. Chilled glasses help preserve foam and temperature—if desired, place flutes in a cooler for 5–10 minutes before service.

3. Open the bottle safely

While keeping one hand on the cork, remove the foil and loosen the wire cage (untwist 6 half-turns). Hold the cork firmly and twist the bottle (not the cork) slowly and gently to ease the cork out with a quiet 'hiss' rather than a loud pop. Use a clean towel to control the cork and any small splashes. Aim to retain carbonation and avoid spilling.

4. Pour properly

Tilt each flute at a 45° angle and pour the wine gently down the side to preserve the mousse and aromas. Fill each glass to about two-thirds full (approximately 100–120 ml per flute), allowing a fine bead of bubbles to form without overflow.

5. Garnish (optional)

If using cucumber slices or lemon twists, lightly twist a lemon strip over each flute to release essential oils, then drop it into the glass or hang the cucumber slice on the rim. These are optional and intended to complement the wine's brightness without overpowering it.

6. Serve with appropriate food

Serve the Crémant alongside light hors d'oeuvres such as fresh oysters (a half shell with a squeeze of lemon), smoked salmon canapés, gougères, or a mild goat cheese on sliced baguette. These pairings enhance the wine’s crisp acidity and delicate fruit and brioche notes.

7. Taste & enjoy

Encourage guests to take small sips to appreciate the wine’s mousse, acidity, minerality, and any subtle autolytic (yeasty/brioche) character from bottle ageing. Keep the bottle in the ice bath between pours to maintain serving temperature.

8. After service, wipe the bottle mouth with a clean towel before resealing with a stopper if any remains. Wash flutes in warm water with a mild detergent and dry with a lint-free cloth to avoid streaks. Store the remaining wine upright in a cool, dark place and consume within 1–3 days if resealed; note that sparkling wines will progressively lose effervescence.