Unlocking Rieslingsekt’s Potential

By

Nicole Wolbers

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Volume 16, Unconventional Conversations •
Heiko Bamberger hand riddles his traditional method Rieslingsekt, Photo credit: Wein- & Sektgut Bamberger

Riesling is admired for its complexity, longevity, and ability to reflect its terroir. The same is slowly becoming true in the sparkling wine sector, where bubble enthusiasts are discovering what aged Rieslingsekt can offer.  In the world of German wines, Riesling is the undisputed star. Still wines gained their historical reputation as early as the 15th century, while the 18th and 19th centuries witnessed the rise of traditional method sekt. Over time, large companies monopolized the production of cheap, tank-fermented sparkling wine, until smaller, individual wineries were finally allowed to produce and sell their sparkling wines in the early 1980s. This…

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Nicole is on a mission to raise awareness of lesser-known traditional method sparkling wines. Following a successful career as a textile engineer, a move to California made her realize that wine was her true passion. In Santa Barbara, she worked in the best wine store in town while taking wine classes in Napa Valley. Her WSETdiploma thesis led her right into the world of bubbles and gained her a nomination as one of the top candidates of the Champagne Bureau in the UK. Back in Germany, she noticed that the quality of German Sekt had rocketed, but few people knew about it. To change this, Nicole launched schaumweinmagazin.de, which focusses on German sparklers and offers sales, education, and tasting experiences. She now lives in the Berlin area, works as a wine writer, and is a frequent judge at wine competitions. In addition to holding the WSET diploma, Nicole is also a certified Cava Educator.

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