Wc07Feb11
David Ellis
A FIZZ bang for your buck: Germany's Henkell Trocken claims title to being Europe's "favourite sparkling wine." |
GERMANY's most famous sparkling wine, Henkell Trocken Sekt goes back 155-years to 1856 when Adam Henkell began making a bubbly little drop that whilst popular, took three generations of the family to really hit its straps.
And it was a 20-year-old, Otto Henkell who went to the USA to learn about marketing and trading, who finally put the wine on the world map: on his return home he recommended that the family discontinue its range of many differently-labelled sparkling wines, and produce just one Sekt (it means dry) bubbly of unmistakable flavour and quality.
And in a standard-labelled bottle, that could be recognised instantly wherever it was sold – in Germany or internationally.
It was revolutionary, and it worked. Today the company uses Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Blanc de Noir and Chenin from Rhine Valley vineyards to make a non-vintage fizz that's German-precision consistent, with a palate of smooth and creamy citrus-like fruit flavours and a lingering finish.
HISTORIC drop to share with a rosemary-infused roast leg of lamb. |
ONE FOR LUNCH: BRAND'S Laira were the first to plant Merlot in Coonawarra, and two rows of the original vines amid its-now 300ha vineyards were basically the genesis of most of Coonawarra's current Merlot plantings.
Fruit from those two original rows was hand-selected and used to create small quantities of the unique 2007 Brand's Laira Two Row Merlot, a big wine with varietal plum and blackberry flavours complemented by notes of cinnamon, chocolate and cedar. A great drop worth searching out – yet just $27.99. Share it with a rosemary-infused roast leg of lamb and baked vegies.
NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com
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