TheBuyer: Anne Krebiehl (MW), name three areas that you believe German wine is making greatest strides in and why? – 1. Sekt: As regular readers will know; fizz is close to my heart. Sekt was the last bastion of German wine to be given the quality treatment. In the 1960s and 70s a once thriving industry succumbed wholesale to mass-production of tank-fermented, easy Sekt and gave the once luxus-denoting term its tainted image. This is no longer the case: there is now world-class traditional method Sekt – still small in production but it does exist. This is where Germany has made the largest strides, especially in the past five years. The best thing about it: the very best bottles are still slumbering away in cool cellars, maturing on their lees. Rieslingsekt, in various styles, is a USP – something the world needs to learn about.
Sekt
Germany is one of the largest sparkling wine markets in the world. 500 million of the 2 billion bottles of sparkling wine produced in the world is consumed in Germany. Sparkling wine produced in Germany is called Sekt. Sekt is made in all German wine regions. All of the 5 production methods are used.
There are three groups of Sekt makers: (i) large and (ii) smaller Sekt Houses, which only make Sekt and (iii) winemakers, who make predominantly wine, but complement their wine selection by a few Sekts.
The Sekts produced by large Sekt estates tend to be in the demy-sweet and sweet range and made by using the Charmat Method, while the Sekts of smaller estates and winemakers are mostly in the brut and extra brut range, made according to the Méthode Champenoise.
At the top, premium and ultra-premium Sekts are made according to the Méthode Champenoise. To indicate that it is made like Champagne the label says "Traditionelle Flachengährung"/ Traditional Method. One of the rquirements is that it has aged on the lees in the bottle for at least 9 months on the lees.
"Winzersekt" is what is called "Grower Champagne" in Champagne, i.e. the grapes come from the producer's vineyard.
A Winzersekt is always a Deutscher Sekt/ Qualitätsschaumwein b.A. (bestimmter Anbaugebiete), a quality sparkling wine from a protected designation of origin wine region. Regional grape varieties like Riesling, Silvaner, and Pinot Noir are used.
On the other side of the quality spectrum, you find just "Sekt" on the label, made at least partially from imported wines from Italy, Spain and France. If it says "Deutscher Sekt", the grapes are all from Germany.
There are also lots of semi-sparkling wines (Perlwein), which can range from really cheap to excellent quality wines.
German production of sparkling wines dates back to the early 1800s, when G. C. Kessler & Co. was founded by Georg Christian Kessler, who had previously worked at the Champagne House Veuve Clicquot. Also, many (French) Champagne Houses have German origins, such as Bollinger, Mumm, Taitinger.
See also: Champagne, Sekt, Cava, Pét-Nat ...: Sparkling Wines around the World - A Primer
Deutscher Sekt Award/ Vinum
The Deutscher Sekt Award is organized by the leading wine journal Vinum and the Verband der traditionellen klassischen Flaschenvergärer/ Association of Traditional Classic Bottle Fermenters.
Sekterzeuger des Jahres/ Sekt Producer of the Year
Niko Brandner
Griesel & Compagnie
Bensheim
Vinum: Career changer, no winemaking family background, just six years on the market, a forgotten growing area - the key data of Griesel & Compagnie can not really hope for such fabulous qualities. But the owner Niko Brandner has managed to create from zero the first sparkling wine estate in the Hessische Bergstrass Region.
As in previous years, the Griesel Sekts play a leading role in the 2019 Vinum Deutscher Sekt Awards, with two Sekts on the podium this year and two more in the top group. And even if Griesel Sekt did not manage to win in any of the categories, Griesel Sekt missed the top spot by just 0.3 points - we are sure: something really great is emerging. As soon as Niko Brandner will be able to have older vintages at his disposal, Sekts will emerge here that will play at the very top. Niko Brandner is the Sekt producer of the Year.
Sekt des Jahres/ Sekt of the Year
Volker Raumland with his daughters Katharina und Marie-Luise
Sekthaus Raumland
Flörsheim-Dalsheim
Vinum: There are wine producers you can not avoid. And there is a sparkling wine producer in Germany, to whome the same applies. For decades, Volker Raumland has almost single-handedly pushed the German ultra-premium Sekts forward. Be it as a producer for other wineries, be it with his own Sekts. The list of his awards and prizes is impressive. And even if he gradually passes the scepter to daughter Marie-Luise, he shows once again this year very impressively that he still can do it like no other. In the finale round Raumland was represented with seven Sekts. In the category "Burgundy varieties more than 36 months on the lees" the "Vintage Blanc de Noirs Brut 2008" was with 18 points the highest rated Sekt in the entire competition. With its fascinating complexity and great harmony, it is a truly great sparkling wine, and without any question the sparkling wine of the year.
Burgundersorten/ Burgundy Varieties
Bis 36 Monate Hefelager/ Up to 36 Months on the Lees
#1: Weingut Franz Keller, Vogtsburg-Oberbergen, Baden
Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Brut 2016
16 Euro | www.franz-keller.de
#2: Weingut Schloss Sommerhausen, Sommerhausen, Franken
Blanc de Blancs Brut
18,50 Euro | www.sommerhausen.com
#3: Sektkellerei Andres & Mugler, Ruppertsberg, Pfalz
Blanc de Noir Brut 2017
14 Euro | www.andresundmugler.de
Burgundersorten/ Burgundy Varieties
Über 36 Monate Hefelager/ More than 36 Months on the Lees
#1: Sekthaus Raumland, Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Rheinhessen
Vintage Blanc de Noirs Brut 2008
69 Euro | www.raumland.de
#2: Griesel & Compagnie, Bensheim, Hessische Bergstrasse
Prestige - Pinot Brut Nature 2015
48,50 Euro (Magnum) | www.griesel-sekt.com
#3: Bergdolt Klostergut St. Lamprecht, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Pfalz
Chardonnay Brut Nature 2015
Preis: 16,50 Euro | www.weingut-bergdolt.de
Rieslingsekt
Bis 36 Monate Hefelager/ Up to 36 Months on the Lees
#1: Weingut Emrich-Schönleber, Monzingen, Nahe
Riesling Brut
16 Euro | www.emrich-schoenleber.de
#2: Flik Sektmanufaktur, Mainz, Rheinhessen
Riesling Brut 2017
12,90 Euro | www.flik.de
#3: Weingut Bibo Runge, Oestrich-Winkel, Rheingau
Riesling Sekt b.A. brut 2014
17,50 Euro | www.bibo-runge-wein.de
Rieslingsekt
Über 36 Monate Hefelager/ More than 36 Months on the Lees
#1: Gut Hermannsberg, Niederhausen, Nahe
Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Extra Brut Sekt b.A. 2013
69 Euro | www.gut-hermannsberg.de
#2: Florentiner Palais GmbH / Motzenbäcker, Deidesheim, Pfalz
Riesling Brut Methode Rurale 2015
23 Euro | www.motzenbaecker-sekt.de
#3: Weingut Schloss Sommerhausen, Sommerhausen, Franken
Le Extreme Riesling 1994
129 Euro | www.sommerhausen.com
Rosé Sekt
#1: Privat-Sektkellerei Reinecker, Auggen, Baden
Reinecker Rosé Brut 20155
14 Euro | www.sektkellerei-reinecker.de
#2: Weingut Dr. Wehrheim, Birkweiler, Pfalz
Rosé Sekt Brut 2016
17,90 Euro | www.weingut-wehrheim.de
#3: Weingut Franz Keller, Vogtsburg-Oberbergen, Baden
Pinot Rosé Brut 2016
16 Euro | www.franz-keller.de
Divers
#1: Weingut Kaufmann, Eltville, Rheingau
Pinot Noir Brut
15 Euro | www.kaufmann-weingut.de
#2: Weingut Hans Wirsching, Iphofen, Franken
Silvaner Extra Brut 2016
13,80 Euro | www.wirsching.de
#2: Griesel & Compagnie, Bensheim, Hessische Bergstrasse
Muskateller Brut 2015
15,50 Euro | www.griesel-sekt.de
Sekt mit Restsüsse/ Fruity-sweet Sekt
#1: Weingut Ökonomierat Petgen-Dahm, Perl, Mosel
Gewürztraminer Demi-Sec 2011
13 Euro | www.petgen-dahm.de
#2: Sekthaus Raumland, Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Rheinhessen
Fleur Doux
16 Euro | www.raumland.de
#3: Genossenschaftskellerei Heilbronn eG, Heilbronn, Württemberg
Heilbronner Staufenberg Muskateller Sekt Dry 2017
9,45 Euro | www.wg-heilbronn.de
schiller-wine: Related Postings
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: November 1, 2019)
Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)
Ultra-premium Sekt: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Griesel&Compagnie, Sekthaus Streit, Bensheim, with Winemaker Rachele Crosara - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen
Champagne, Sekt, Cava, Pét-Nat ...: Sparkling Wines around the World - A Primer
Tasting at Sekthaus Raumland in Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Rheinhessen, with Heide-Rose and Volker Raumland - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Weingut Franz Keller in Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden: Cellar Tour and Tasting with Fritz Keller – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Franz Keller in Oberbergen, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tasting at Weingut Emrich-Schönleber in Monzingen, Nahe, with Owner/ Winemaker Frank Schönleber - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Gut Hermannsberg in Niederhausen, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Kaufmann in Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Urban Kaufmann and Eva Raps - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
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