Joseph Cattin Crémant d'Alsace Brut NV

The Cattin family traces its winemaking origins to 1720 when François Cattin, a Swiss-born builder from Porrentruy, settled in Voegtlinshoffen and planted vines as a secondary pursuit. The small village sits 10 kilometers south of Colmar at approximately 330 meters elevation on the Vosges foothills. Twelve generations later, Domaine Joseph Cattin has grown into the largest family-owned and family-operated winery in Alsace.

The estate takes its name from Joseph Cattin, who led the family during the devastating phylloxera crisis of the late 19th century. His expertise in grafting techniques helped save many of Alsace's most renowned vineyards, earning him the diploma of "Vignoble modèle." His brother Théodore simultaneously established La Cigogne restaurant in Paris, which introduced the family's wines to the Parisian bourgeoisie.

Jacques and Jean-Marie Cattin, Joseph's grandsons, took over in 1978 and modernized operations while expanding vineyard holdings to 65 hectares across Voegtlinshoffen, Steinbach, and Colmar. Today, Jacques Junior and his wife Anaïs manage the estate, representing the 12th generation. Around 80 percent of their vineyard parcels occupy sloped positions, with soils ranging from clay and limestone to sandstone and marl.

Crémant d'Alsace has become the estate's specialty, representing 45 percent of total production—approximately 1.2 million bottles annually, making Cattin the largest private Crémant producer in Alsace. The family maintains a separate cellar dedicated exclusively to sparkling wine production. Their portfolio includes four Crémant cuvées: the house Brut, Brut Rosé from 100% Pinot Noir, Grande Cuvée (vintage, aged 4+ years), and Brut Emotion.

The domaine practices sustainable viticulture and produces certified vegan wines. Their Grand Cru Hatschbourg vineyard, documented since 1188, remains among the family's oldest and most prized holdings.

Discover more sparkling wines and other selections at primalwine.com/collections/best-sellers-natural-wine. For additional Cattin wines, see Joseph Cattin Alsace Riesling.

Alsace occupies a narrow strip of northeastern France between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, stretching approximately 170 kilometers from Marlenheim to Thann. The Vosges create a rain shadow that makes Alsace one of the driest wine regions in France, with annual precipitation between 500 and 650 millimeters. The semi-continental climate brings cold winters, warm summers, and long, dry autumns ideal for grape ripening.

The region's geological complexity results from ancient tectonic activity that created a patchwork of soil types including granite, schist, limestone, marl, clay, sandstone, and loess. This diversity allows growers to match grape varieties to specific terroirs, producing wines of distinct character even within short distances.

Crémant d'Alsace received AOC recognition in 1976, establishing strict production standards comparable to Champagne. The appellation requires hand-harvesting, gentle pressing of whole clusters, and secondary fermentation in bottle with at least nine months aging on lees. Permitted grape varieties include Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Rosé versions must be made exclusively from Pinot Noir.

Today, Crémant d'Alsace represents over 20 percent of all Alsace AOC wine production and has become the most consumed sparkling AOC wine in France after Champagne. More than 500 producers belong to the Syndicat des Producteurs de Crémant d'Alsace. The sparkling wines typically exhibit freshness, delicacy, and pronounced fruitiness, with some cuvées developing buttery, brioche-like complexity through extended lees aging.

Beyond sparkling production, Alsace is celebrated for aromatic white wines from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat—the four "noble" varieties permitted in Grand Cru vineyards. The region maintains 51 designated Grand Cru sites recognized for their exceptional terroir.

Explore Alsace wines and other French selections at primalwine.com/collections/french-wine-natural-wine.