Bubbles, please!
20 March 2025
The Spanish do it. The Italians do it. The French do it. And the Luxembourgers? Even more. Bubbles. The Spanish drink Cava, Italians sip Prosecco, the French enjoy Champagne, and Luxembourgers pour Crémant on any occasion. But why does it have a distinct name?
For a long time, sparkling wine across Europe was simply called Champagne, regardless of where it was made. But in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles banned Germans from using the name, and in 1992, the EU's Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) system extended this protection across the bloc. Since then, only sparkling wine from France's Champagne region – made under strict rules – may bear the name.
To distinguish sparkling wines made outside Champagne but using the same method, France introduced the Crémant label. Several French regions adopted it in the 1990s, and Luxembourg's Moselle winemakers saw an opportunity. Historically, Luxembourg's sparkling wine had a mixed reputation, but with the introduction of the label Crémant de Luxembourg in 1991, strict production standards transformed its quality and status.
 | Franziska Peschel Crémant de Luxembourg is more than just an alternative to Champagne, it's a mark of excellence in its own right. Only sparkling wines meeting strict quality standards may bear the name. A hundred litres of Crémant must come from no more than 150 kilograms of handpicked whole grapes. Today, Crémant de Luxembourg is not just a local favourite, but a serious competitor on the European sparkling wine market. |
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