Château de Riquewihr Dopff & Irion — makers of wines in Alsace, France since 1945 — welcomes a new wine to its U.S. portfolio: Crémant d’Alsace Brut Blanc de Blancs.
Following the success of the Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé, which is one of the brand’s best-selling wines, the company has recently launched the Blanc de Blancs to respond to the increasing demand of French sparkling wines among American drinkers.
“It’s a dry, elegant wine that stands up well next to premium Champagne, but is versatile enough to be at home on any table,” says Frédéric Raynaud, CEO of Dopff & Irion.
The Dopff & Irion Crémant d’Alsace Brut Blanc de Blancs is made in the traditional method from a blend of 50% Pinot Blanc and 50% Pinot Auxerrois. The grapes are pressed whole and the base wine obtained is kept in tanks for approximately six months before it is bottled. Yeast is then added for the second fermentation which occurs in the bottle.
The wines are kept on wooden laths for 12 to 15 months before disgorging.
Sparkling wine has been made in Alsace since the year 1900 when Julien Dopff, René’s brother, began applying the “champagne method” to his Alsatian wines. Today, the region is regarded for producing crémants.
The Dopff & Irion Crémant d’Alsace Brut Blanc de Blancs is an ideal wine to be served as an aperitif, the company says. Fine and light bubbles with fruit aromas of green apple and lemon, the wine is balanced and “perfectly dry” with a round and elegant palate.
“The sparkling wine category is continuing to grow, and we don’t see that momentum slowing any time soon,” says John Caruso, Executive Vice President of Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., the brand’s importer. “Wine drinkers are curious about what else is out there beyond Champagne and Prosecco and they are turning to crémants.”
Chateau de Riquewihr Dopff & Irion wines are imported by Dreyfus, Ashby & Co. in New York, NY.
The Crémant d’Alsace Brut Blanc de Blancs NV has an SRP of $22 per 750-ml. bottle, and is available for immediate delivery.
