Today I was invited to join an interview and a round-table for an report for the German public TV station Südwestdeutscher Rundfunk about champagne and sparkling wines. We in Germany are, after all, at the forefront of the world with around 3.5 litres of annual sparkling wine consumption. One of the questions discussed was whether sparkling wine could keep up with champagne in terms of quality.
The answer to this question is a very clear “yes”. And not only for Germany but also for Austria. This is proven by wines like the Blanc de Blancs from the top Austrian producer Bründlmayer. For me, one of my favourites, of which we opened a bottle after the shooting back at home today. The Chardonnay grapes for this wine grow primarily on limestone-rich southeastern slopes that give power and elegance.
Fermentation of the base wines takes place in stainless steel and maturation in used oak. The wine remains on the lees in the bottle for about 36 months after the second fermentation.
The result is simply brilliant: elegant acidity provides the backbone for a linear yet complex wine. Lemon, some white peach, brioche and a subtle spiciness dominate the palate. Very long with an animating saline-mineral finish.
