It tastes and looks as good as Champagne...but the great news is, it will cost you about a third of the price of most standard commercial Champagne brands here in NZ.

In fact Limoux in the Languedoc region is thought to be the first place in France to produce Sparkling Wine back in, you guessed it ...1531 as the name implies - long before ' Champagne'!

The region is Chardonnay predominant, with Chenin, Mauzac and Pinot Noir used for blending purposes. As it is not an area inside the designated Champagne region it must be called Cremant, which is a title given to the eight other regions in France making sparkling wines using the same methods as they do in Champagne.

The same strict guidelines used in Champagne are used for Cremant production too. And sometimes like in the case of lees ageing, they even go above and beyond these. Twelve months lees maturation is required for a non vintage Champagne, and yet this fruit driven fresh yet complex Cremant has been aged for an incredible eighteen months on its lees, giving it the same appeal stylistically, but for a fraction of the price!

Clean ripe stonefruit in the mouth and pretty florals on the nose, are balanced with a creamy textural mouth feel and toasty nutty complexity. This is a premium experience, for a very accessible price!

We've been singing its praises for years now, as we believe wholeheartedly in the astonishing value it delivers. Having a wine like this in your reportoire will save you big bucks if you're catering for a crowd too. But don't just take our word for it, have a gander at the ELEVEN Gold Medals it has collected over the past few years, and of course give it a try ... you won't be disappointed. And remember to tell your friends and family about this super buy too...they'll thank you for it!

c'est magnifique!