Swill or Swell: Episode 4

Schloss Biebrich Sekt Sparkling Rosé

WATCH THE EPISODE HERE

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

​CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

I was so excited to try this wine because I love sparkling wine and couldn’t believe I’d found a German Rosé Sekt at Trader Joe’s for under $10! If this wine passes the taste test, it would be the perfect celebratory bottle for anyone on a budget!

SCHLOSS BIEBRICH SPARKLING SEKT ROSÉ FUN FACTS

Before we get into the tasting notes, let’s talk a bit about what Sekt is. I originally thought Sekt meant sparkling wine from Germany, but this is not the case! For the most part, this is true. Most bottles labelled ‘Sekt’ are produced from grapes grown in Germany (or Austria).

However, unlike the word “Champagne,” “Sekt” is not a protected term. The term “Champagne” is protected in that winemakers can only use the term if their grapes are from the Champagne region in France. In Germany, producers can import grapes (or even wine) from wherever to produce Sekt. All of this to say, be sure to check the back label of a bottle labelled “Sekt” to find out just where the grapes came from to produce that bottle of wine!

A couple other tidbits of information to note about this wine:

• The bottle is labeled Trocken. This is a term relating to the sweetness of the wine. Trocken wines have 17-32g/L of sugar. This might sound like a lot, but when compared to a typical bottle of Moscato d’Asti with 90-100g/L, it’s not too bad!
• Germany & Austria represent the largest sparkling wine market in the world! In 2014, Germany consumed over 5 bottles of sparkling wine per person. That was five times the rate in the US. 
• Sekt is new to international markets because it used to be very low quality. However, they’ve recently stepped up their game and most Sekt exported is definitely worth trying! Especially look for bottles labelled German Sekt b.A.
  
  ​Alright, let’s move on to the tasting!​

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Pale pink color w/ slight salmon tinge
Smell: Red fruit: cherry, strawberry, watermelon; delicate white & pink flowers; orange peel, hint of funk (in a good way!)
Taste: Lots of fruit on the palate, going towards raspberry and strawberry with some peach. Some sweetness which leans the fruit towards a jolly rancher flavor. High acidity. 
Think:
Food Pairing - Aperitif, Tacos, Charcuterie, Easter Ham, Spicy Takeout
Occassion - Great wine for mimosas or cocktails, also great for a hot summer day or on Easter with your Roast Ham.
Rating - One thumb up - Swell!

Overall, I would definitely drink this wine again! My one complaint is that the fruit flavor in the wine leans more towards jolly rancher than fresh fruit, but I think that could be combated with some salty/fatty food paired with the wine. I’d also recommend serving the wine ice cold. You’re not missing out on any aromas or complexities by enjoying this super chilled! This wine is a great choice for anyone wanting something bubbly and pink!

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Cheers!