An Oenologist's Vision for Crémant d'Alsace
Michel Fonné brings something unusual to Crémant d'Alsace: formal Champagne training and a scientific understanding of sparkling wine production. Educated in oenology at Dijon and with hands-on experience in both Champagne and California, Michel returned to Alsace in 1989 to take over the family vineyards in Bennwihr, between Kaysersberg and Riquewihr.
He reassembled parcels from his uncle René Barth's estate and his father's holdings, building a 13-hectare domain that stretches across four communes: Bennwihr, Mittelwihr, Sigolsheim, and Colmar. Crucially, his vineyards include four Grand Cru sites: Mambourg, Mandelberg, Marckrain, and Schlossberg, plus three named Lieux-Dits that contribute specific character to the blends. That is an enviable portfolio of terroir for any Alsatian producer, and Michel uses it to craft Crémants that reflect specific places rather than a generic house style.
Each cuvée differs in grape composition, aging duration, and flavour profile, giving you a range that genuinely rewards exploration and comparison. If you are interested in discovering how traditional method sparkling wines express different terroirs with clarity, Michel Fonné offers a masterclass in that art.
Grand Cru Terroirs in Every Bubble
The Crémant d'Alsace range at Michel Fonné is built primarily around Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling, with each cuvée showcasing different blends and vineyard sources to create distinct expressions. The Crémant d'Alsace Brut, a blend of Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc, is the house calling card: fresh, floral, and elegant, with the kind of fine, persistent mousse that signals serious méthode traditionnelle craftsmanship and careful lees management.
The Cuvée Premium takes it further, drawing on older vines and longer lees aging to deliver richer, more toasty complexity with notes of brioche and almond. Then there is the Crémant d'Alsace Rosé, which brings Pinot Noir into the picture for a fresh, berry-scented sparkling wine that is perfect for warmer months and lighter food pairings.
What sets Michel Fonné apart is the 36-month aging on the lees for his top cuvées, a duration that many Champagne producers would consider ambitious for their own wines. It gives the Crémants a creamy depth, a fine bead, and a layered complexity that develops beautifully in the glass over the course of an evening. The oenological precision is evident in every detail, but it never overshadows the fruit or the terroir expression.
Why Michel Fonné Stands Out in Our Selection
When we tasted Michel Fonné's Crémants, we were struck by how much they reminded us of well-made grower champagne in terms of finesse, depth, and terroir transparency. The precision, the refined mousse, and the clean, expressive fruit all pointed to a producer operating at a level well above the Crémant category average.
Michel's Champagne training is evident in every bottle, but his wines are unmistakably Alsatian, carrying the aromatic expressiveness, floral character, and fruit generosity that this region does so well. Four Grand Cru vineyards is an exceptional foundation for any sparkling wine producer, and Michel uses that advantage wisely, never relying on reputation alone but always pushing for better expression in each vintage.
At The Champagne Fox, we are passionate about sparkling wines that tell a story of place and people, and Michel Fonné does both with grace and dedication. These are bottles that offer remarkable quality for their price, making them ideal for everyday enjoyment and for introducing friends to the world of artisanal sparkling wine. If you enjoy wines that combine Blanc de Blancs elegance with Alsatian warmth and aromatic charm, Michel Fonné deserves a place on your table. These are Crémants that compete with wines costing twice as much, and that is exactly why we chose them.
