Domaine Claude Bentz (Luxembourg, Wormeldange) AOC Crémant de Luxembourg and Luxembourgish Whites

CAROLE BENTZ

There are three large cooperatives that dominate the wine production scene in Luxembourg, with all grapes coming from a 28 kilometer stretch of the Moselle starting at the French border and running northeast toward Grevenmacher. And most of that wine lives, stays, and is consumed in Luxembourg, by the Luxembourgish. Alongside there are just 25 independent producers in the valley, and all of their wine also stays in Luxembourg.

Following 8 different winery visits, we found what we were looking for, and someone willing to export their tiny production beyond the borders of this small country; a vigneronne named Carole Bentz. 

Carole poured us her Crémant at the end of our tasting together, almost as an afterthought, and warned us that almost the entire production was sold in their tasting room, or reserved for private events at the winery. (The winery and gardens are spectacular, and they do all kinds of weddings, retirements, and other parties on site there)

We said that her Crémant was the best we had tasted all week, and that if Luxembourg wines were to become better known outside of a 40km radius of their home, then we needed to show off the top stuff. She liked that argument and caved in.