Though we dearly love Champagne, there are sparkling wines outside its borders worthy of discovery. German sparkling wine (or as they call it, Sekt) may seem like a new concept to most of us, but consider that France’s iconic Champagne houses like Krug, Bollinger, Mumm, Deutz and Piper-Heidsieck were all founded by German immigrants.
Enter Volker Raumland, who grew up in a winemaking family in Rheinhessen’s German village of Flörsheim-Dalsheim (sharing the same zip code as Riesling superstar Keller). Volker studied viticulture at the esteemed Geisenheim University when he made his first Sekt. He soon began winning awards for his sparkling wines-- and found his true passion and love in this pursuit.
This led Volker to establish Sekthaus Raumland in 1984, focusing solely on the production of sparkling wines. Raumland eschewed the seas of cheaply made bubbles and instead is taking German sekt to its heights. He also helped other winemakers make fine quality sekt, earning him the moniker, the “Sektpapst” or Pope of Bubbles.
We are excited to bring this Sparkling wine to you! It’s 100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards, made in the traditional method by Sekthaus Raumland. All work in the vineyard is done by hand.
Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl in Vinous describes this sparkling wine beautifully, as she notes, “The 2014 Brut Chardonnay Réserve was grown on gravel and loam soils, with 24% of the base wines fermented in barrique. Stone and lemon are almost austere on the nose, promising strait-laced clarity that absolutely follows on the palate. This is taut, bright and dew-fresh. There are no frills at all, just beautifully streamlined freshness, citric briskness, stony depth and clear-cut elegance. The creamy, fine mousse softens the undoubted impact, as does that well-judged smidgeon of oak richness. This is supremely elegant, slender, profound and really incisive. Blanc de Blancs lovers listen up, this has life ahead of it. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: February 2023.”
This is a serious sparkling wine of precision and elegance. The Raumland Chardonnay Brut Reserve shows purity and vibrance in an understated manner. Quantities are limited. First come, first served.
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS - "The 2014 Chardonnay Brut Reserve is pure Chardonnay from old and also grafted vines in Bockenheim and the Burgel grand cru. Vinified in 76% stainless steel and 24% barriques and bottled in April 2015, it was disgorged in January 2023. This lemon-colored sparkling wine opens with an intense and really chalky Chardonnay bouquet that indicates complexity depth and finesse as well as concentration and perfect fruit ripeness. On the palate, this is a rich yet stringent and even pure, very saline and persistent sparkling wine with great complexity, length and tension. The acidity here carries the wine to a long and complex, salivating finish and gives this Réserve spectacular aging potential. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2023. Drink date: 2023 to 2040." - Stephan Reinhardt. Published: Dec 07, 2023
Enter Volker Raumland, who grew up in a winemaking family in Rheinhessen’s German village of Flörsheim-Dalsheim (sharing the same zip code as Riesling superstar Keller). Volker studied viticulture at the esteemed Geisenheim University when he made his first Sekt. He soon began winning awards for his sparkling wines-- and found his true passion and love in this pursuit.
This led Volker to establish Sekthaus Raumland in 1984, focusing solely on the production of sparkling wines. Raumland eschewed the seas of cheaply made bubbles and instead is taking German sekt to its heights. He also helped other winemakers make fine quality sekt, earning him the moniker, the “Sektpapst” or Pope of Bubbles.
We are excited to bring this Sparkling wine to you! It’s 100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards, made in the traditional method by Sekthaus Raumland. All work in the vineyard is done by hand.
Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl in Vinous describes this sparkling wine beautifully, as she notes, “The 2014 Brut Chardonnay Réserve was grown on gravel and loam soils, with 24% of the base wines fermented in barrique. Stone and lemon are almost austere on the nose, promising strait-laced clarity that absolutely follows on the palate. This is taut, bright and dew-fresh. There are no frills at all, just beautifully streamlined freshness, citric briskness, stony depth and clear-cut elegance. The creamy, fine mousse softens the undoubted impact, as does that well-judged smidgeon of oak richness. This is supremely elegant, slender, profound and really incisive. Blanc de Blancs lovers listen up, this has life ahead of it. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: February 2023.”
This is a serious sparkling wine of precision and elegance. The Raumland Chardonnay Brut Reserve shows purity and vibrance in an understated manner. Quantities are limited. First come, first served.
WINE ADVOCATE 97 POINTS - "The 2014 Chardonnay Brut Reserve is pure Chardonnay from old and also grafted vines in Bockenheim and the Burgel grand cru. Vinified in 76% stainless steel and 24% barriques and bottled in April 2015, it was disgorged in January 2023. This lemon-colored sparkling wine opens with an intense and really chalky Chardonnay bouquet that indicates complexity depth and finesse as well as concentration and perfect fruit ripeness. On the palate, this is a rich yet stringent and even pure, very saline and persistent sparkling wine with great complexity, length and tension. The acidity here carries the wine to a long and complex, salivating finish and gives this Réserve spectacular aging potential. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2023. Drink date: 2023 to 2040." - Stephan Reinhardt. Published: Dec 07, 2023
