Wine Pick: An Affordable French Sparkler

Get Gallic and pop the cork on this delicious award winner.

This weekend, let’s toast the temperate weather (cloudy skies or no) and the start of the French Open on May 24 with an uplifting bubbly from a special corner of France. This affordable bottle is also a winner in the Sparkling category of our 11th annual Wine Awards.Zinck Crémant d’Alsace Brut$20.89France +421388  Any time you see the term Crémant on a wine label, you can assume two things: it’s a sparkling wine made in France (but not in the Champagne region), and it’s made in the traditional bottle-fermented method (just like Champagne). Crémants offer toasty aspects similar to Champagne, but are made from a broader variety of grapes—plus, they typically cost about a third of the price of Champagne. This wine comes from the sunny, sheltered northern region called Alsace, and is crafted from pinot blanc, pinot noir, and chardonnay. Aging on the lees for a year is displayed with biscuit-y aromas on the nose, while the palate brims with apricot and pear flavours, and a smart, citrus-y finish. Clean, fresh, and lively fizz for a steal!