Charles Frey Crémant Brut Nature 2024

If you're looking for an alternative to Champagne that punches well above its price point, this is a brilliant place to start. The nose is packed with crisp orchard fruit, citrus peel and hints of fresh bread and toasted nuts from extended lees ageing. On the palate it's bone dry and beautifully focused, with fine bubbles and a refreshing mineral finish. The absence of dosage gives the wine tremendous purity and makes it uber food-friendly. Serve as an aperitif, with oysters, smoked salmon, crab, sushi or delicate seafood dishes. It's also fantastic with hard cheeses and makes a wonderfully sophisticated celebratory bottle.

Domaine Charles Frey is one of Alsace's pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture. The family's winegrowing roots stretch back to the 18th century, although the first wines under the Charles Frey name were bottled in 1963. Today, the estate is run by third-generation brothers Julien and Thiébaud Frey, who farm 14 hectares of vineyards around Dambach-la-Ville. Certified organic since 1996 and biodynamic since 2004, the family works with a wide range of Alsatian terroirs, including granite, sand, clay and limestone soils. Their thoughtful, low-intervention approach and commitment to sustainability have made them one of the region's most respected producers of both still and sparkling wines.