It seems expensive marketing campaigns, celebrity endorsements, and social media is paying off – Americans consumed over 26.5 million cases of sparkling wine last year, up from 17 million in 2022. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed reported consuming sparkling wine at least twice per week. As Champagne prices continue to rise, many have turned to Prosecco as a lower cost alternative, but this exchange can result in consuming diminished quality.
Enter Sekt, Germany’s sparkling wine and best kept secret. Due to its sorted past, Germans have been thankful Sekt was their secret, until now. Today, Sekt is having a renaissance and is posed take its place between Champagne and Prosecco in the American sparkling wine awakening.
Let’s Talk About Sekt
A traditional method sparkling wine, Sekt is known for its acid-driven profile. While all German grape varieties can be used, the ones most commonly used are Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
Ranging in styles from extra dry to sweet, Sekt produced from Riesling offer fresh and racy acidity, minerality, and notes of citrus, orchard, and stone fruit. Pinot Noir delivers juicy notes of red berries in styles ranging from bone dry to dessert-style sweet.
Sektual Healing
When it comes to sparkling wines, the Germans have game. As a nation, they consume more bubbles per capita than any other country. Did you know in the early 19th century, Germans went to Champagne to study traditional method sparkling wine. In fact, Krug, Piper-Heidsieck, Bollinger, and Mumm were all founded by Germans. Others returned to embrace the ideal growing conditions in their homeland.
Unfortunately, the Germans did not have the same foresight as the Champenois to protect their name and quality. Therefore, after two world wars, German producers moved from the traditional method to an industrialized tank fermentation, allowing for large amounts of base wine to be converted into bubbles more cost efficiently. Quality took a hit, and remained low for most of last century.
However, today, this has changed. Sekt is back to its origin as a high-quality traditional method sparkling wine made from the finest base wines.
Bringing Sekty Back
A Sekt label will include one of three classifications:
- Deutscher Sekt: Grapes must originate 100% from Germany, can be produced using tank (minimum 90 days on yeast), or traditional (minimum nine months on lees) method.
- Deutscher Sekt b.A.: Grapes must originate 100% from a specific region
- Winzersekt: Grapes must be 100% estate grown, produced using traditional method with minimum of nine months on lees (most producers far exceed this), label must contain grape variety and vintage
Sekt ranges in style from brut nature (0-3 grams/liter of residual sugar) all the way to mild (a lusciously sweet dessert style), with an emphasis on extra brut (0-6g/l) and brut (0-12g/l). The wide range in style allows for an equally wide variety of food pairing options. Think oysters on the half shell, baked, or fried, crab cakes, crudo and tartare, fish and chips, creamy pasta, roasted chicken or duck, smoked salmon, curries or spicy cuisine, apple pie, crème brûlée, bread pudding, or an assortment of cheese.
Another aspect making Sekt attractive: Price. While typically more than many Proseccos, Sekt runs far less than Champagne, and punches well above its weight class. Furthermore, it’s makes for an interesting conversation wine to share.
This cornucopia of qualities should make Sekt easy to find. However, this is not the case. If unable to locate, ask your favorite local wine retailer to add some high-quality Sekt to the inventory.
Sekt To Try
Loosen Brothers ‘Dr L’ Sparkling Riesling: This 100% Riesling is crisp, bright, and charming. Crafted using tank method for everyday enjoyment. Typically, under $20.
Weingut Robert Weil Brut Riesling Rheingau 2015: Traditional method Riesling that is lean, mineral-driven, with layers of fresh aromas. This perennial favorite typically runs under $50.
Weingut Markus Molitor ‘Molitor Brut’ NV: This 100% Riesling, sourced from Molitor’s Mosel vineyards, is crafted using the tank method. A refreshing and restrained example from a producer that’s one of the sparkling pioneers of the region. Over delivers for around $20.
Von Winning Riesling Extra Brut Sekt Pfalz: A bone-dry Riesling that is chalky, salty, and mouth-watering good. First fermentation in stainless steel tanks, followed by secondary fermentation in bottle. A beauty for about $30.
Fritz Muller Perlwein Rosa Trocken For something total different, this semi-sparkling brut style-wine is a blend of Portugieser and Pinot Noir that is lively and fun, loads of bright fruit, surprising complexity, lively acidity, and an under $20 price point make it a bit dangerous.