Value Versus Price: Discovering Hidden Gem Burgundy Sparkling Wines

 

When it comes to purchasing Burgundy sparkling wines, such as the world­famous Crémant de Bourgogne, understanding the difference between value and price is crucial for making a wise decision. Wine enthusiasts often confuse the two, but they are distinct concepts that can deeply impact your buying experience. In the case of Crémant de Bourgogne, a region known for producing elegant sparkling wines, understanding how to navigate the landscape of value versus price can lead you to discover exceptional wines at great prices. That’s also the raison d’etre here at BurgundyWine.com ­ we exist to bring you the best value wines, from the winemakers we’ve known for years, and prove that there really is such a thing as everyday Burgundy wine...

 

Value vs. Price: What’s the Difference?

Price is the amount of money that you pay for a bottle of wine. Put simply, it’s the monetary figure printed on the label. When you buy a bottle of Crémant de Bourgogne, the price reflects various factors such as production costs, the region it was made in, the renown of the producer, packaging, and distribution costs.

On the other hand, value is a much more subjective concept. It’s about how much you feel the wine is worth in relation to what you paid for it. Value considers not only the quality of the wine but also how it aligns with your expectations and enjoyment. So a wine that offers excellent complexity ­ but also aging potential at a lower price ­ might be considered high in value. Conversely, a bottle with a higher price tag but not offering a great drinking experience might be deemed poor value.

 

Burgundy Sparkling Wine: Crémant de Bourgogne

Burgundy, primarily famous for its still wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, also produces sparkling wines under the Crémant de Bourgogne designation. These Burgundy sparkling wines are made using the traditional method, the same process used for Champagne, where the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle to create bubbles. (Prosecco is the outlier here as it undergoes its own second fermentation in steel tanks and is done quite quickly, unlike Crémant and Champagne.)

Crémant de Bourgogne can be made from a variety of grapes, mainly Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, but sometimes also Gamay or Aligoté, and it often offers a wonderful balance of freshness, finesse, and complexity.

Crémant de Bourgogne offers a unique opportunity for wine drinkers. It’s made in a region famous for high­ quality wine, yet it doesn’t carry the price tag of Champagne. This can make Crémant an attractive choice for those seeking quality sparkling wine at a more accessible price. You can read more about Crémant in our article here.

 

How to Find Great Value in Burgundy Sparkling Wines

To find a great value Burgundy sparkling wine like Crémant de Bourgogne, here are several factors to consider:

1. Browse BurgundyWine.com for our top hidden gem Crémant wines.

We have 30 years’ experience of living in Burgundy and working with the very finest small appellation and lesser­known winemakers. Even in Burgundy, quality can be variable, so cut out the risk in any purchases you make and head to our wine shop to find quality bottles such as these two:

• Picamelot Crémant De Bourgogne 'Les Reipes': This exceptional 1.55­hectare terroir, featuring on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2015, is located on south-­facing slopes above the village of Saint-­Aubin, at an elevation of about 350 meters. The Cuvée, called Les Reipes, is Louis Picamelot’s interpretation of a Blanc de Blancs, known for its precision and purity. To the eye, the wine has a bright color, and its bubbles exhibit a remarkable finesse. Fresh citrus notes combine with the complexity of the Chardonnay, creating a subtle balance between delicacy and aromatic strength, (and making it more suited for complementing meals than for an aperitif, though it can do both). Elegant and generous, this Crémant pairs wonderfully with food. It's crafted exclusively from grapes sourced from a single vineyard plot, which is 100% Chardonnay. This plot, known as Les Reipes, is located on the heights of the Saint-­Aubin village in Hautes Côtes de Beaune. Manual harvesting occurs only when the grapes are perfectly ripe, and they are transported in cases with small perforated holes in to keep the whole berries intact and minimize the risk of oxidation.

• Champagne Brigandat Brut Tradition: This is an exceptionally well made wine, which then goes through a second fermentation, which only adds more quality and character to it. Straight away on the nose you’ll get rare and exotic notes of honeysuckle and lime – complex fruits in abundance but also bright mineral and saline notes. It continues on the palate with peach, plum, jasmine, creamy citrus and even toasted hazelnut – this is one of the best examples of great value in a wine for its price that you can find anywhere in Burgundy.

2. Know the Price Range

While Burgundy sparkling wines may be priced lower than Champagne, there’s still a wide range of prices for Crémant de Bourgogne. Cheaper wines offer a good introductory experience, but complexity rises along with price.

The key to finding value is to identify wines that overdeliver in quality for their price. There are many bottles on our shop at BurgundyWine.com that drink like wines in much higher price ranges – and some Village or Premier Cru wines that drink like Grand Cru wines too!

3. Quality vs. Brand Recognition

The brand name of a wine can have a significant impact on its price. Established winemakers with a long history may charge more for their Crémant, simply due to their reputation. While there are certainly some prestigious names worth exploring, our advice is not to overlook lesser­known producers. These smaller, boutique wineries often offer excellent wines at a fraction of the price.

When you’re evaluating quality, pay attention to any tasting notes and reviews you can find about the wine (and if you’re a member of our Burgundy Wine Club you’ll get these in with the deal!) A lesser­known winemaker who follows traditional methods of production may yield wines that are more focused on craftsmanship rather than marketing, providing great value.

 

Experience the best Crémant Wines As Our Guests

We firmly believe that Burgundy wine tastes best when enjoyed in Burgundy. What better place to test this theory than in our recently renovated Burgundy Wine Tasting Room at Domaine de Cromey? This space was once a winemaking room dating back to the sixteenth century, and we have lovingly restored it to provide our guests with a stylish and relaxing environment to explore these wines. We hope to meet you soon to introduce more Burgundy sparkling wines to you!