At Châtillon-sur-Seine (21 Côte d’Or BFC) they celebrate the sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne wine with a Festival Fête du Crémant et Tape-Chaudrons – 17 March 2024 (3rd Saturday in March)
The festival celebrates the local sparkling wines – Crémant is the term used for sparkling wines which are not Champagne – as only wines mad in the Champagne region can be called “Champagne”. Crémants can be made by in the same way (méthode champenoise) but are pften less “fizzy”. The best known are the Crémants from Burgundy, the Loire and Alsace.
The “Tape-Chaudrons” name comes from an ancient tradition of vigorously banging cauldrons to drive out the winter and encourage the onset of Spring! – hence “bang cauldrons”.
A procession of floats and music and other entertainments come together with the wine to make this a memorable day!
Crémant de Bourgogne wines can be white or rosé, usually from the Chardonnay grape, although Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Gamay (for the rosé). Being significantly cheaper than Champagne, yet often very fine wines these can make a great alternative.
