If you think Luxembourg is all fairytale castles and quiet nature walks, think again. St Martin Caves Luxembourg brings a whole new sparkle to the story. Let me pour you some imaginary crémants (bubbly wine) and tell you this country has been growing vineyards for more than 2000 years. Because under the sleepy cliffs of Remich, a small city in Luxembourg close to the German border, hides something sparkling. Welcome to the St. Martin Caves. A wine lover’s dream and a bubbly blast.
Underground, Cold, and Fabulous
The caves themselves were carved into the rocks in 1921, and yes, St Martin Caves Luxembourg are still doing what they were made for over a century later: crafting and preserving bubbly wine. Here you can take a guided tour through this sparkling maze of tunnels, which is officially 1 km long.
Inside the caves, there is a constant 12 degrees Celsius with 70 to 80% humidity. The cave is cool, damp, and moody. Occasionally, drops from the ceiling make you think wine is falling from heaven, but to your disappointment, it is just water.
From Slopes to a Glass With Love
The grapes used for St. Martin’s wines are noble varieties, handpicked with love (and a bit of muscle) from vineyards that stretch across steep hillsides.
Out of Luxembourg's 1,300 hectares of wine-growing region, the vineyards of St. Martin stretch across just 30 hectares. Expect to taste Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Riesling, and the very elegant Pinot Noir.
Let the Bubbles Begin
After the grapes are harvested and the juice has been extracted, it goes into massive stainless steel tanks from 3,000 to 6,000 litres for fermentation. And while legally minimum ageing is 9 months, here they keep it for 24. Because quality takes time, and bubbles get better with age.
You know what they say – a woman is like a bottle of wine, she gets better with time. And so do the bubbles. The longer it sits, the finer and silkier they become.
It takes up to 3 years to produce a bottle of bubbles from harvest. Which is adorable considering most of us finish it off in under 10 minutes.
More Wine...
At the end of the tour, you get a full-on wine tasting session. You can choose to try the Crémants or go for the regular still wines. You can select up to four glasses of different wines. After a few tastings at St Martin Caves Luxembourg, you will walk out with a smile, maybe a wobbly one, but definitely satisfied.
Cheers to that!