Sparkling wine

Be it New Year’s Eve, a party or brunch, a Formula One or a horse race – whenever people are bubbling over with joy, it’s hard to imagine them without a glass of bubbly, the sparkling crown jewel of winemaking.

8 - 10°

are ideal drinking temperatures
3,5

bar minimum
9 Monate

Fermentation in the bottle
0-3g

residual sugar content correspond to "brut nature".

German gourmets are the world champions of Sekt consumption. And that’s why many wine estates have established Winzersekt as a fixed component on their list of offers.

Extra Effort brings Extra Flavor

Classic fermentation in the bottle: At the beginning of the production of Sekt, sugar and a special kind of yeast, able to withstand great pressure, are added to the base wine. This initiates the second fermentation, producing the CO2 that will later make the Sekt sparkle so pleasantly in the glass. The pressure exerted by the carbonic acid needs to amount to at least 3.5 bar – up to 6 bar can be achieved. In the original method of Sekt manufacturing, the so-called Méthode champenoise, and in classic bottle fermentation, the second fermentation takes place in the individual bottle.

In a dark and cool cellar, Winzersekt lies and matures on its yeast for a minimum of 9 months, sometimes for years. After this, the bottles are placed upside down into so-called riddling racks. For a period of four weeks, they get turned daily and set ever more steeply upright at the same time. At the end of this laborious process, all the yeast has collected in the bottle’s neck. The bottle necks are then immersed in a brine (a freezing cold solution) to make the yeast freeze. If the bottles are opened now, the pressure from the carbonic acid ejects the yeast clot. The technical term for this process is “disgorging”.

Since the term “Méthode champenoise” has been exclusively reserved to the products of the French Champagne region for many years, Sekt manufactured by this method in Germany uses the term traditional or classic bottle fermentation.

Designations of styles

The designations for the styles of Sekt as defined by German Wine Law are different from those of wine, because the natural carbonic acid content of Sekt reduces the perception of sweetness. Accordingly, the permissible residual sugar levels of a dry Sekt are markedly higher than those of a dry wine.

brut nature: 0-3 g/l
extra brut: 0-6 g/l
brut: 0-12 g/l
extra dry: 12-17 g/l
dry: 17-32 g/l
semi-dry: 32-50 g/l
mild: over 50 g/l

Not everything that foams is sparkling wine:

Schaumwein is the generic term for moussing, i.e. foaming wines with perlage, with a minimum pressure of 3 bar.

Sparkling wine is sparkling wine whose carbonic acid is produced during fermentation and generates at least 3.5 bar of internal pressure.

Perlwein has less pressure, the carbonic acid may also be added. Good sparkling wines are fresh, light, summery-fruity and at the same time relatively inexpensive, as they are not subject to sparkling wine tax.

Secco is the modern term for trendy sparkling wines.

Crémant can be called German sparkling wines that meet certain specifications for grape varieties, harvest and fermentation.

Which wine-growing region was the first to introduce sparkling wines to the market?

Rheinhessen launched the first vintner sparkling wines in Germany more than 25 years ago.

Varietals

with herb crust Roast turkey

with herb crust

600 Gramm Putenbrust am Stücke
0,25 Liter Weißwein
0,25 Liter Gemüsebrühe
4 ganze Tomaten
4 Scheiben Toastbrot
2 ganze Eier
2 Stück Zwiebeln
75 Gramm geriebener Emmentaler
1 Stange Porree
1 Bund Schnittlauch
1 EL Olivenöl
nach Belieben Salz & Pfeffer

Wash the meat, pat dry and cut a deep pocket lengthways. Crumble the toast. Wash and chop the herbs, peel and dice the onions.

Preheat the oven to 200°C (top and bottom heat). Place the bread, herbs, onions, cheese and eggs in a bowl, mix thoroughly and season. Stuff 2/3 of this mixture into the turkey breast. Pin the opening with wooden skewers and tie up crosswise with kitchen twine. Place the roast in a roasting tin and brush with oil.

Roast in the preheated oven for approx. 1 hour. Gradually pour in the white wine and vegetable stock.

Clean and wash the vegetables. Cut the leek into pieces and add to the roast with the whole tomatoes after 30 minutes.

About 20 minutes before the end of the cooking time, spread the remaining third of the herb mixture over the roast and finish cooking.

Arrange on plates with the vegetables and serve. Serve with rice.

Pinot Gris (trocken)
Chardonnay (trocken)

White asparagus with pancake strips Asparagus with "Kratzete"

White asparagus with pancake strips and champagne butter sauce.

1kg Weißer Spargel
200g Mehl
4 Eier
150ml Milch
1TL Butterschmalz zum Braten
2EL Butter
1 Zitrone
1 Prise Zucker
1-3 Schnittlauchröllchen zum Garnieren
1 Für die Soße:
150g Butter
50ml Sahne
50ml Sekt
etwas Salz und Pfeffer

Mix the flour with the eggs, milk and a pinch of salt to make a smooth pancake batter. Leave to soak for 30 minutes.

In the meantime, peel the asparagus and cook in salted water with 2 tbsp butter and a pinch of sugar until al dente. Drain well and keep warm.

Pour the pancake batter in batches into hot clarified butter
.

pour into hot clarified butter. When the underside is browned, use a fork to scrape into pieces. Finish frying until the pieces are golden yellow.

For the champagne-butter sauce, bring the cream to the boil, reduce slightly and stir in the cold pieces of butter (walnut-sized). Add the sparkling wine and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange the asparagus on pre-warmed plates. Add the kratzete, drizzle with the sauce and garnish with chives.

Wine recommendation:

A mild and dry Gutedel or a delicate Kabinett wine from Riesling or Pinot Blanc.

Gutedel (trocken)
Riesling (brut)
Pinot Gris (brut nature)

a Christmassy dessert Plum roaster with cinnamon ice cream

a Christmassy dessert

1 kg Zwetschgen (frisch oder TK)
100 Gramm Zucker
0.5 TL gemahlener Zimt
Eine Prise Nelkenpulver
50 ml Pflaumenschnaps
50 Gramm dunkler Rohrzucker
2 EL alter Balsamicoessig
200 Gramm Zucker
4 Eigelb
500 ml Sahne

Plum rings:

Wash, deseed and quarter the plums. Spread the sugar evenly in a non-stick pan and melt slowly over a medium heat. Increase the temperature and immediately add the fruit, schnapps and spices. Stir until the mixture caramelises.

Stir in the muscovado sugar and balsamic vinegar, spread onto a cold plate after approx. 3 minutes.

Cinnamon ice cream:

Combine the sugar and egg yolks and stir the two ingredients over a bain-marie until frothy.

Whip the cream, then carefully mix both mixtures and add three teaspoons of cinnamon. Carefully mix the cinnamon into the mixture again.

Pour the finished mixture into any (cake) tin or small dish, cover with aluminium foil and place in the freezer for at least three hours.

Place the plums on four deep plates or small bowls, cut off 2 – 3 ice lollies each and place on top, serve immediately.

Gewürztraminer (trocken)

with semi-dry wines Flädlesuppe

with semi-dry wines

1 Bund Schnittlauch
1 Liter Fleischbrühe
150 Gramm Weizenmehl
300 ml Milch
nach Belieben Speckschwarte zum ausreiben der Pflanne
Etwas Salz

Make a smooth, not too thick batter from the flour, milk, eggs and a pinch of salt. Heat a heavy frying pan on a high heat, rub with bacon fat, pour in a small dollop of batter, allow to spread and fry thin pancakes (flädle).

Leave the pancakes to cool, halve and cut into thin strips.

Place in clear, very hot meat stock and serve immediately.