Crémant d'Alsace | Sophie Schaal | Alsace

Name: Crémant d'Alsace | Sophie Schaal | Alsace
Brand: Sophie Schaal
SKU: 919
Price: 16.36 EUR
Availability: InStock

16.36 €

16.36 €

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The soil is composed mainly of limestone. 100% Pinot blanc.

The grapes are hand-harvested early to preserve freshness. After the first fermentation, the base wine is bottled with yeast and sugar to start a second fermentation in bottle. The wine is then aged on its lees for at least 24 months. After disgorgement a small dosage (Extra Brut: 3 g/L) is added to adjust sweetness before final corking.

Wine Identification
Sophie Schaal’s Crémant d’Alsace is a non-vintage sparkling wine produced in the Alsace region of France. The winery, led by Sophie and Julien Schaal, operates vineyards in Alsace as well as near the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, cultivating grapes in harmony with organic farming principles to allow the terroir to express its full potential across diverse geological soils.

Origin and Winemaking
This 100% Pinot Blanc sparkling wine is crafted from hand-harvested grapes picked early to preserve freshness. The soil composition is primarily limestone, contributing to the wine’s character. Following primary fermentation, the base wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle with yeast and sugar (the traditional method). It matures on its lees for at least 24 months before disgorgement. A small dosage of 3 g/L results in an Extra Brut style, adjusting sweetness prior to final corking. The alcohol content is 12%.

Expected Profile
Visually, the wine presents a pale golden color with fine, persistent bubbles and delicate foam. On the nose, aromas of green apple, fresh lemon, and white flowers are enriched by subtle notes of brioche and almond. The palate is lively and dry, offering good tension with citrus notes and a mineral finish. It is recommended to be served chilled at 6-8°C.

Food Pairing
This versatile sparkling wine pairs well with appetizers, fish, poultry, international cuisine, cheese, fruit-based desserts, and as an aperitif.

Critics' Scores
Jancis Robinson awarded the wine a rating of 16.

Overall Character
Sophie Schaal’s Crémant d’Alsace is a crisp, mineral-driven sparkling wine defined by its extended lees aging and precise dosage. It balances vibrant acidity with complex aromatic layers, reflecting the winemaker’s commitment to organic viticulture and early harvesting techniques.

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Learn more about Sophie Schaal

Sophie Schaal is a Dijon-trained oenologist who met her future husband, Alsatian winemaker Julien Schaal, while working at Paul Cluver estate in Elgin, South Africa, in 2013. Now based in Hunawihr, between Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr, Sophie launched her own label with a distinct purpose from Julien's Grand Cru négociant range: approachable AOC Alsace varietal wines made with artisan quality standards. Their shared entity, SAS Vins Schaal, operates as a négociant purchasing fruit from trusted growers on the Haut-Rhin slopes, all under certified organic farming.

Though she owns no vineyards outright, Sophie works with carefully selected parcels in the Hunawihr area. Her Riesling draws 70% of its fruit from the Grand Cru Osterberg at Ribeauvillé — deliberately declassified to AOC Alsace — while the Pinot Gris comes from deep clay soils, the Gewurztraminer from limestone terraces, and the Pinot Noir from well-exposed limestone slopes. All sourced fruit is organically farmed.

Sophie's style begins with slow whole-bunch pressing, extended cool fermentations (up to three months for some varieties) and a non-interventionist approach throughout. Riesling and Gewurztraminer rest in stainless steel to protect aromatic freshness; Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir age in French oak barrels. The Pinot Noir — the most ambitious wine in the range — undergoes a 16-day maceration with 10–15% whole bunches, ten months in oak, and is bottled unfined. The Crémant d'Alsace Extra Brut, 100% Pinot Blanc, spends more than 24 months on the lees. James Suckling named the 2022 Riesling his "Pépite of the Year 2024" with 93 points; the 2026 Guide Hachette awarded the 2023 Riesling one star, and Bettane & Desseauve rates the domaine two stars.

See all wines by Sophie Schaal →