Why Everyone’s Suddenly Talking About Crémant — And How to Store It Properly.

If you’ve noticed more customers asking for Crémant lately, you’re not imagining it. UK sales volumes hit 6.3 million bottles in 2025, up 22% on the year before, and its share of French sparkling wine exports to the UK has more than doubled since 2019. Industry figures reported through into 2026 suggest the category is still climbing, not levelling off — one major French producer described it as moving from a niche offering to a genuine strategic category for UK retailers.

It comes down to price. Champagne prices keep climbing, and Crémant offers a similar traditional-method fizz at a fraction of the cost. Made using the same process as Champagne but produced outside the region — most commonly in Alsace or the Loire — it delivers proper bubbles without the premium price tag. For venues looking to offer something a step up from Prosecco without moving to Champagne pricing, it’s an easy sell behind the bar.

But serving Crémant well means storing it properly, and that’s where a lot of venues fall short. Sparkling wine needs consistent chilling at the correct serving temperature — typically 6-8°C — to keep the bubbles fine and the aromas intact. A standard fridge shelf, especially one shared with food, rarely holds that consistently, and temperature swings dull both the fizz and the flavour.

Storing the Trend: Getting Crémant to the Right Temperature

This is where a proper wine cabinet earns its keep. If you’re stocking both still wines and Crémant, a dual-zone unit lets you hold each at its correct temperature in the same cabinet, so a Crémant d’Alsace and a Rioja don’t end up compromising on each other’s ideal serving conditions. Our Vestfrost WFG32 is a compact dual-zone option — holds 32 bottles, comes with a 3-year warranty, and tends to move quickly given current demand.

If you’re mainly serving one style at a time, single-zone storage does the job just as well and often costs less. Our graded Blizzard WD400 offers a larger 81-bottle capacity at £1026 + VAT — a solid saving on new. It’s a Grade D reconditioned unit, so expect a straightforward, no-frills chiller rather than a display piece — a practical option if function matters more than looks behind the bar.

The WD400 is graded stock, so availability moves quickly, and the WFG32 is in high demand even as new stock — worth calling ahead to confirm either before planning a visit. Prices and availability correct at time of publishing.

Whether Crémant turns out to be a passing trend or a lasting shift away from Champagne, one thing’s certain: a properly chilled bottle sells better than one that’s been sitting on a random shelf. Get the presentation and temperature right, and customers notice — which means they’re more likely to order a second glass, or a second bottle for the table.

Fancy a chat about which wine storage option suits your bar? Call us on 01379 641223 and we’ll point you in the right direction.