A reliable source of crisp, aromatic everyday whites, world-class dry Rieslings, mesmerizing late-harvest wines, and an emerging region for serious Pinot Noir…can Alsace do it all? We certainly think so. Moreover, let us not forget one more specialty from this wonderland in northeast France: Alsace also excels in delicious, reasonably priced traditional-method sparkling wine.
     Consider this Crémant d’Alsace from the historic Kuentz-Bas house in the picturesque hillside village of Husseren-les-Châteaux. Made from Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois—a blend you will only ever find in Alsace—it exudes a real sense of place that is discernible through its unique aromatics. Then there is Alsace’s cool climate, which is surprisingly dry and sunny thanks to the rain shadow effect from the Vosges Mountains. The grapes are able to ripen fully, but retain a mouthwatering acidity—a balance that makes it easy to gulp down a glass purely to slake one’s thirst.
     A dignified bottle of bubbles like this is certainly suitable for special occasions, and would beautifully complement the most refined cuisine. There is a rich, toasty complexity from lees aging, which highlights the delicate aromas you’ll find in your glass: honey, nectarine, citrus, and summer flowers. But at the end of the day, it’s simply a great sparkler that needs no excuse to be uncorked. You can most definitely count on Alsace for that.