I had to fly to Luxembourg to get these...
We first offered you these incredible and unique sparkling wines back in September of 2024. You snapped them up instantly, and I presume drank them with as much gusto as the locals do in Koepchenn. We’ve been trying to get more of these Crémants back on these shores since then, but as the story below explains… thats not easy.
With a visit to the winery in October, and some gentle arm twisting with a promise it was going towards a good cause… I managed to secure a few cases for all of you: a grand total of 120 bottles…60 of the Brut, and 60 of the Brut Rosé.
For a refresher on what makes these wine so hard to get, and why you’ll want some for yourself, read on. And if you are ready to order, scroll to the bottom for the details.
These wine aren’t available. They come from a tiny country with a minuscule production that doesn’t export. Simply put, I shouldn’t have any reason to write this email to you. But here we are…
Dan and I dropped into the village of Ahn, a tiny hamlet along the Luxembourg Wine Route about 25 minutes from Luxembourg city, to visit two energetic young brothers, and ask them if we could get our hands on some of their beautiful Crémant. It was proving to be an uphill climb as steep as the vineyard slopes surrounding us.
Here in Ahn, brothers Nicolas and Mathieu Schmit, are the 8th generation and current driving force behind Maison Viticole Schmit-Fohl. Their father still does most of the vineyard and tractor work, while Nicolas makes the wine, and Mathieu sells it to his restaurant buddies all around this tiny country. Their vineyards are perilously steep, and most are situated on an east facing hillside near the town of Wormeldange, just across from Germany. It is idyllic and gorgeous.
After tasting through a enlivening line up of still wines, we broached the topic of their sparkling wines. The response was that we’d be better off discussing the matter over a meal and some more wine.
A quick drive down the Wine Route to the slightly larger village of Koepchenn, landed us on the doorstep of the bustling and boisterous Koepchenn Bistro. A crowd of Luxembourgish stood around waiting for a table outside on a perfect summer night. Thankfully, Mathieu’s friend, a manic sommelier with the gift of gab named Matti, ran the place, and got us seated straightaway. Shortly afterwards glasses of the crystalline Schmit-Fohl Crémant were poured for us, accompanied by a plate of Luxembourgish dumplings called kniddelen, and twinkling café lights swaying lazily overhead in the breeze.
Why was this Crémant proving so hard to get? While 1/3 of Luxembourg's production is sparkling wine, 98% of all Luxembourg produced wine is sold and consumed, you guessed it, in Luxembourg. Our true obstacle was the very Bistro we were dining at, which, along with a few other restaurant in the country of just 600,000, snaps up most of the Crémant that Nicolas makes. It was literally the first wine listed on the menu! How could we get our hands on some, if it all seemed to get consumed just meters from their cellar doors?
However, the Schmit brothers are forward thinking and globally minded. They’ve travelled and worked at wineries around the world. Wouldn’t it be nice, they thought, if some of their wines could travel as much as they have? Yes, they said — they would save some for us, but we would have to wait, because the bistro had just placed a rather large order.
Schmit-Fohl
Crémant de Luxembourg Brut
The perennial favorite at the Koepchenn Bistro - where most of this gets consumed. Brilliant, racy, and energetic, the Brut is blended from Auxerrois, Chardonnay and Riesling, and aged for twenty four months on the lees before disgorgement building complexity and texture during that time. A modest dosage brings out the fruit, but this remains quite dry, with a crisp finish that highlights the energy of riesling.
Schmit-Fohl
Crémant de Luxembourg Brut Rosé
A stand out for its elegance, both in texture and fruit. Made from 100% Pinot Noir and aged on lees for 24 months, with minimal dosage for a pure, unadorned expression. Enticing red fruit, lovely richness on the palate, and a clean, bright finish that lingers.
We’re thrilled with everything these brothers make, including their full range of vibrant whites and stellar Pinot Noir included, but it’s these bubblies that brought us to Luxembourg in the first place, and we’re glad to have a new batch landing in our warehouse for you.