Crémant

The word crémant is used to describe a French sparkling wine that is made outside the Champagne district but made according to the Champagne method of secondary (bubble-causing) fermentation inside each individual bottle. Crémants come from all over France; some of the best known include Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant de Loire, and Crémant de Limoux. Crémants are rarely as expensive as Champagne. In summer, chilled cold, they are refreshing and fun.

Which of the following is not one of Oregon’s wine-producing regions?

A. Umpqua Valley

B. Applegate Valley

C. Columbia Valley

D. Knights Valley

Knights Valley is located in Sonoma County, in northern California, and is planted primarily with cabernet sauvignon grapes. The other three regions are all in Oregon and produce a range of wines. Interestingly, the large Columbia Valley wine region is not only in Oregon; part of it also falls in Washington State.

“I’m playing the best basketball of my life, and I’m drinking some wine pretty much every day.”

–LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, speaking to NBC Sports, California. On a recent trip to Napa Valley to taste wines, James practiced at the St. Helena High School gym.

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