The world of sparkling wine is a vast one. While champagne has long been the reigning king, there&#39;s another contender that&rsquo;s not only equally delicious but also offers great value for money - Cremant.

Cremant hails from various regions in France and Luxembourg. It uses the same traditional method as champagne (m&eacute;thode champenoise) to achieve its delicate bubbles, yet it often comes at half the price or less! The secret? Well, it&rsquo;s all about location; while Champagne can only be produced in its namesake region under strict regulations, cremants are free to flourish across multiple French territories.

But don&#39;t let their affordable prices fool you into thinking they&rsquo;re inferior &ndash; these wines are nothing short of exceptional when it comes to quality and taste. In fact, many top producers have garnered impressive scores from esteemed wine critics worldwide.

Let&#39;s talk grapes first though. Unlike champagne which primarily uses Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes; cremants enjoy a more diverse palette including Chenin Blanc (Loire), Riesling (Alsace), Mauzac (Limoux) among others depending on their region of origin.

We have two fabulous recommendations that are great values:

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Sylvain-Bzikot-Cremant-de-Bourgogne-w2303009kb">1) Sylvain Bzikot - Cremant de Bourgogne NV</a>. Priced at a modest $23.99, this sparkling wine is an absolute steal considering its quality and taste.

Sylvain Bzikot hails from a family of winemakers that has been rooted in Puligny-Montrachet since 1940s. Over the years, they&#39;ve perfected their craft and today produce some of Burgundy&#39;s most sought-after wines.

The Cremant de Bourgogne NV embodies all the qualities you&#39;d expect from such a distinguished producer; it&#39;s elegant yet full-bodied with complex aromas of ripe apples, toasted brioche and subtle hints of honeycomb. The palate reveals fine bubbles that lead to a crisp finish &ndash; making it perfect for any celebration or as an accompaniment to seafood dishes.

Critics are equally impressed with this cremant sparkler; Wine Enthusiast awarded it 90 points while praising its &quot;bright acidity&quot; and &quot;rich apple flavors&quot;. It&rsquo;s no wonder why many consider this bubbly as one of Burgundy&#39;s best-kept secrets!

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Francois-Baur-Cremant-d-Alsace-Brut-Reserve-w3941620en">2) Fran&ccedil;ois Baur - Cr&eacute;mant d&#39;Alsace Brut Reserve NV</a> priced at just $17.99! This wine comes from one of Alsace&rsquo;s oldest estates dating back to 1741 which transitioned into biodynamic farming in early 2000s &ndash; showcasing their commitment towards preserving nature whilst producing top-quality wines.

This cr&eacute;mant is made predominantly from Pinot Blanc grapes along with small proportions of Chardonnay &amp; Pinot Noir adding depth and complexity to its profile. Expect fresh notes of green apple, pear coupled with creamy undertones resulting in well-rounded mouthfeel balanced by lively acidity.

Wine critics have showered praises on this bubbly; Decanter Magazine awarded it 91 points, noting its &quot;delicate mousse&quot; and &quot;persistent finish&quot;. This is a testament to the winery&#39;s dedication towards producing high-quality wines that deliver exceptional value.

Both Sylvain Bzikot - Cremant de Bourgogne NV and Fran&ccedil;ois Baur - Cr&eacute;mant d&#39;Alsace Brut Reserve NV are outstanding examples of what cremants can offer. They&rsquo;re not just affordable alternatives to champagne but also quality sparklers in their own right &ndash; proving once again that great wine doesn&#39;t have to break the bank!

So how do we best enjoy these fantastic bubblies during summer? With food pairings galore! For starters try pairing your favorite cr&eacute;mant with a plate of fresh oysters or grilled prawns, the acidity and bubbles work wonderfully to cleanse your palate. If you&#39;re planning a picnic in the park, why not bring along some creamy brie cheese or smoked salmon sandwiches? The rich flavors are beautifully balanced by cr&eacute;mant&rsquo;s crispness.

So, cremants offer incredible value without sacrificing quality or taste - they truly deserve their place at our tables alongside (or even instead of) champagne this summer season! So next time you reach for that bottle of bubbly remember &ndash; there&#39;s more than just champagne out there waiting to tickle your tastebuds. Cheers!

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The world of sparkling wine is a vast one. While champagne has long been the reigning king, there's another contender that’s not only equally delicious but also offers great value for money - Cremant.

Cremant vs Champagne: The real deal for bubbles.

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Meadowsweet

Camila Alvarez

Meadowsweet

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Camila Alvarez, wine sommelier and consultant.

Bonjour Camila,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you join our CorkRules Family from Paris!

CA: Hello Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Meadowsweet Michelin-star New York&hellip;.

It has a great energy and wine list to match.

Camila, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their extensive wine list?

CA: In this wine list we can find the two faces of the same grape variety from different countries. And also some blends that we can find in the ros&eacute; and orange section. A short wine list, but with what is necessary for a good dinner.

RT: That&rsquo;s great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

CA: I don&rsquo;t know why my eyes jumped into the grape variety Chenin blanc, why? Because in this wine list, they try to put attention in showing the diversity of the grape variety depending on the country. So, the Chenin Blanc from Bosman Family Vineyards &rsquo;20 from Wellington in South Africa is completely different than a Chenin blanc from France. This one is golden and very aromatic into the tropical flavors, some freshness. This is a young wine to drink young for an entry course.

RT: Ooohh those sound great.

So, Camila, their list seems to have lots of ways we could go but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

CA: Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah &ndash; Chozas Carrascal, Las Ocho, 2016 &ndash; Valencia, Spain.

This wine is made with new production techniques, for example, the use of concrete for fermentation and several grape varieties to give balance to this wine. Deep ruby colours, with red jammy aromas like cherry, blackcurrant, and herbal notes. The blend between these four grapes varieties made it the perfect mix between Bordeaux and Spanish style. A great pairing with the American wagyu bavette.

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So, this list has so many great choices, what other wines would you suggest for our second or third course?

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CA: My first suggestion is a Pinot Noir from Vine and Supply from Willamette, Oregon, vintage 2015. Why a pinot noir, or why this pinot noir? Well, this producer only does small production from small plots of land. 12 months in French oak and 12 in the bottle, this means that the aromas of pinot noir here are mostly accentuated, with a strength that is difficult to find in other pinot noirs from the same area. The aromas of ripe red berries and cedar are there not only because of the oak, but also because the vintage 2015.

Second option, we are going to travel to Italy in one of the best areas the Piedmont, Dolcetto d&#39;Alba, Reva 2019 from Piemonte, Italy.

Dolcetto is a grape variety with aromas of sweet red fruits, usually vinification is made in vats to so that the fruit aromas are preserved in the wine. Flavours of jam, dried fruits and nuts give structure to this wine.

RT: Ooh, terrific. Camila, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

CA: In general, this wine list has a good price for their wines, one example is:

Carignan &ndash; Budwood, Ancient Vines Own Rooted 2019, Contra Costa County, CA

If you don&rsquo;t know too much about Carignan, this is a nice wine to start with, because California is one of those regions where Carignan develops very well. High concentration of red fruit flavours and medium to high acidity.

RT: Now Camila, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

CA:&nbsp; Grenache, Mourv&egrave;dre, Cinsault &ndash; Xavier Vignon, Ch&acirc;teauneuf du Pape Anonyme 2016 from Rh&ocirc;ne, France.

If you want to surprise someone, you can try this Chateauneuf du Pape, great wine with a little&nbsp;mystery, because we don&rsquo;t know exactly the percentage of the blend. But the philosophy of this wine producer and the vintage 2016 made of this one of the best wines in this wine list. Blueberries, hot spices, and some herbal aromas like lavender and cardamon, with a round and powerful body. You can drink it now or until 2026, if you have a special occasion this is a great wine to do it.

RT: Grenache is always something good and this blend and vintage rocks!

CA: I 100 percent agree

RT: Camila Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Meadowsweet&rsquo;s list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go back and try your great suggestions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Braida is a family-owned winery that has been producing high-quality wines since 1961. Their focus is on showcasing the unique terroir of Piedmont through traditional winemaking techniques. They are best known for their Brachetto d'Acqui, a sweet and aromatic red wine that is popular in Italy. Braida is committed to sustainable viticulture practices and produces wines that are both delicious and environmentally friendly.

Expansive venue with a hearty pub grub menu, a beer garden and a sports bar with TAB facilities.

Frenchette

Le Bernardin

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

Charlie Bird

Becco

Buddha-Bar Restaurant New York

Buddha Bar

Franks Wine Bar

Frank's

Maison

Maison Premiere

Pastis

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Aldo Sohm

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

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