Worth the wait....Long awaited Crémant de Luxembourg
These wines 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…
Last July, 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 Mathias Schmit are the next generation and driving force behind Maison Viticole Schmit-Fohl. Their father does most of the vineyard and tractor work, while Nicolas makes the wine, and Mathias 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 an enlivening lineup 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 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, Mathais’s friend, a manic sommelier with the gift of gab named Matti, ran the place and got us seated straight away. Shortly afterward glasses of the crystalline Schmit-Fohl Crémant were set in front of 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 restaurants in the country of just 600,000, snaps up most of the Crémant that Nicolas and Mathias make. 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 traveled widely 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 there was none available for us yet. Until now.
We’ve been waiting over a year for this wine to hit our shores. But folks, it is worth it. That sweet summer evening has been running through my head, as I have patiently waited for the chance to recreate it, café lights, dumplings, and all! We've got just a handful of cases of two glorious sparklers to share with you. Have at!
Maison Viticole 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 pure expression. Enticing red fruit, richness, and a clean, bright finish.
Crémant de Luxembourg Brut Nature--The perennial favorite at the Koepchenn Bistro - where most of this gets consumed! Brilliant, racy, and energetic, the Brut Nature is blended from Chardonnay and Riesling, and aged for three years on the lees before disgorgement for complexity and texture. Zero dosage for a dry, crisp finish that highlights the energy of the riesling.
We’re thrilled with everything these brothers make, including their full range of vibrant whites and stellar Pinot Noir, but it's these bubblies that brought us to Luxembourg in the first place, and finally, we’ve got them landing in our warehouse for you! Want to try?