On the international stage

At Cep d’Or, sparkling wines are a long-standing tradition. The winery has been producing its popular “bulles” for many years — always following its own path and proudly showcasing the results on the international stage.

There is strong and growing interest abroad in Luxembourg crémants, as Jean-Marie Vesque regularly observes. Like many other Luxembourg producers, Domaine Cep d’Or will once again present its sparkling wines at the upcoming Concours National des Crémants de France et de Luxembourg. Participation, explains Vesque — who manages the estate together with his daughter — is always an opportunity to observe the latest developments in the international market and to highlight the quality of Luxembourg’s wines.

In Luxembourg, Cep d’Or counts among the pioneers of crémant production. “The Crémant de Luxembourg designation was created in 1991, and Cep d’Or was founded in 1995. We’ve therefore been producing sparkling wines for 30 years — today they represent 40 to 45% of our sales.” While the early years focused mainly on traditional Luxembourg grape varieties such as auxerrois and pinot blanc, the share of chardonnay and pinot noir has been steadily increasing. Four years ago, the Hëttermillen estate also planted pinot meunier, a grape that, according to Vesque, gives the crémant “a fresh new touch.”

At Cep d’Or, there is a clear philosophy: to produce pure, delicate, and fruity sparkling wines, whose base wines are not aged in barrels, unlike many others. For the April competition, the estate plans to present not young cuvées, but rather traditional wines that have aged at least 24 months on lees — including one slightly sweeter and one drier crémant.

“The first evening of the competition feels like a big class reunion — a chance to exchange, share, and taste everyone’s wines.”