As the #winophiles travel to France to toast the holidays with Crémant sparklers, I thought of the mountains and how much I missed seeing them and reached for a Crémant du Jura. The appellation was created in 1995 but this style of wine had been made in the Jura for a very long time and was sold as vin mousseux. It is an important part of the Jura wine scene and includes 105 communes. By law, it must be a minimum of 50 percent Chardonnay with Savagnin as the supporting grape in the blanc versions. For rosé wines Poulsard and Pinot Noir are the most important grapes in the blend. All Crémant is made in the traditional style and must be aged for at least 9 months before being released into the market.

I found one from Pierre Richard which stated in 1919 when Xavier Richard bought land from his neighbors. It was his son who started making wine and even in the 1940s, the winery had a good reputation. Pierre Richard took over and expand the family holdings in the 1970s. The new generation is headed by Vincent who took over in 2009 after working in other parts of France as an oenologist.

The Jura vineyards in the Franche-Comté region is among Franc’e oldest. It is a region with some 80 km of vineyards that extend from St Amour in the south to Salins-Les-Bains in the north.

With its continental climate, the soils are quite complex and the subsoils are quite ancient dating back 150 million years ago.

The wine iI choose is very dry with little residual sugar, great acidity, and low alcohol. A Gorgeous perlage, numerous fine bubbles, and a creaminess on the palate make this one a crowd pleaser.

Lovely golden in color, on the nose, it fills the glass with toasty, nut, brioche aromas and on the palate the same continues with more fruit, alcohol, dried nuts, and acidity. Extremely long and persistent, this wine is perfect with a Gruyère I have in the house. Rich and enveloping, this handcrafted wine is a beautiful way to celebrate the beginning of winter break and hopefully a period of relaxation and health for all.

Please join us for a holiday twitter chat at 11:00am EST, on Saturday, December 18th. You can find us by using the hashtag #winophiles. Join the conversation and let’s dish about these amazing bubbles.

Check out these wonderful articles by fellow enthusiasts and bloggers:

A Delightful Duo of Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Aperitif with Flair – Crémant de Bourgogne and Amuse-Bouche by Grape Experiences

Champagne Sabering Louis Boillot Cremant de Bourgogne by David Glancy Master Sommelier and French Wine Scholar from San Francisco Wine School

French Crémant with Tasty Nibbles by Always Ravenous

High-Low Pairing: Domaine Allimant-Laugner Crémant d’Alsace Rosé + Takeout Chinese by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

On the Road with Cremant d’Alsace by Somm’s Table

Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil paired with a Cremant Cocktail for a fun Holiday Celebration by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Sparkle-up Your Comfort Food with Crémant d’Alsace by Food Wine Click!

Sparkling Wine Secrets: Celebrate the Season with Biodynamic Bubbles from Bourgogne and Alsace with Festive Finger Foods by Wine Predator

Tasting Cremants with Janice Robinson by Wineivore and

Crémant du Jura, A Trip to the Mountains by Avvinare

Salut!