Crémant d’Alsace is marking 50 years of recognition in 2026, celebrating a category that has played a pivotal role in the global success of Alsace wines.
As the driving force behind the Alsatian wine industry, Crémant d’Alsace now stands as the leading French AOC crémant, accounting for four out of every ten bottles of AOC wine produced in Alsace and representing one third of the category’s market share worldwide, ahead of Crémant de Loire and Crémant de Bourgogne.
More than a third of the volume of Crémant d’Alsace is exported (34.2%), reinforcing its strong international presence. The category is predominantly white wine (87%), with blends of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois (54%) accounting for more than half of production, followed by Pinot Gris (16%) and Riesling (9%) grapes. Rosé Crémant d’Alsace, made exclusively from Pinot Noir, now accounts for 13% of production and has been growing in recent years.
The range of Crémants d’Alsace continues to evolve and diversify, with an increasing focus on premiumisation. Producers are placing greater emphasis on single-varietal cuvées, (including 100% Chardonnay), longer ageing on the lees, and a wider selection of rosés and whites made from red grapes. Growth in the Brut and Extra-Brut categories further reflects changing consumer preferences.
While sparkling wines had been produced in Alsace on a small scale since the early nineteenth century by pioneers such as Jean Dirler (Dirler-Cadé), the foundations of Crémant d’Alsace were laid at the turn of the twentieth century. At the 1900 Paris World’s Fair, Julien Dopff of Dopff Au Moulin discovered the ‘Champagne method’ during a practical demonstration and resolved to apply it to Alsatian wines. His pioneering approach, later carried forward by his son Pierre Dopff alongside Pierre Hussherr of Wolfberger, ultimately led to the official recognition of Crémant d’Alsace with AOC status in 1976.
Today, the Dopff Au Moulin family continues to play a central role in the story of Crémant d’Alsace, alongside a growing number of Alsatian producers who have helped establish its reputation in both domestic and international markets
Fifty years on from its official recognition, Crémant d’Alsace remains a key driver of the Alsatian wine category and is a vital contributor to the region’s international appeal and sales success.
#DrinkAlsace | #AlsaceRocks
LI Comité interprofessionnel des Vins d’Alsace | IG WinesOfAlsace | FB AlsaceWinesOfficial
YT WinesofAlsace | WB www.VinsAlsace.com | E civa@civa.fr
