Baden - Wurttemberg Attractions
Description
Venue: Kessler Cellars When: Daily; not Sun
The inhabitants of Esslingen enjoy the best things in life. Their local tipple is the deliciously refined Kessler sparkling wine, and visitors can discover for themselves the secrets (and taste) of this delicious beverage with a tour of the historic Kessler cellars.
Georg Christian von Kessler established his brand in 1826, after working at the famous French champagne makers Veuve Clicquot. It was the first sparkling wine (or Sekt as it is know in these parts) to be manufactured in Germany and quickly grew popular with the 19th-century aristocracy. Stuffy European laws means it can't be referred to as champagne, but its complex and long-drawn out manufacturing process means it's just as worthy of the title.
The production plant itself is housed in an awesome red-brick 16th-century house with cellars that stretch out far beneath the town. The production begins on the ground floor of the house, where a selection of white wines (including German Riesling and French chardonnay) are mixed to produce a cuvée. Yeast and sugar is then added. The great difference between Kessler bubbly and other brands is that fermentation occurs in the bottle, meaning each bottle acquires its own distinctive personality.
Visitors can also tour the medieval wine cellars. Bottles line up as far as the eye can see, and in the eerie candlelight, with mushroom mould dripping off the ceiling, it certainly feels like the Middle Ages. If by chance you hear a shot, it's not a Kessler shoot-out, but just a bottle exploding under the pressure of it all!
The best bit, of course, is the actual tasting part, where spitting is not required. Kessler is distinctively dry with a toned-down fizz and comes in many different varieties including Chardonnay Brut, Riesling Extra Dry and Rosé Extra Dry
Should you wish to continue drinking you can join the locals by the roaring log fire of the Bubble Bar. This beautiful oak-panelled room is always cosy with people enjoying an apéritif after a hard morning's shopping.
The inhabitants of Esslingen enjoy the best things in life. Their local tipple is the deliciously refined Kessler sparkling wine, and visitors can discover for themselves the secrets (and taste) of this delicious beverage with a tour of the historic Kessler cellars.
Georg Christian von Kessler established his brand in 1826, after working at the famous French champagne makers Veuve Clicquot. It was the first sparkling wine (or Sekt as it is know in these parts) to be manufactured in Germany and quickly grew popular with the 19th-century aristocracy. Stuffy European laws means it can't be referred to as champagne, but its complex and long-drawn out manufacturing process means it's just as worthy of the title.
The production plant itself is housed in an awesome red-brick 16th-century house with cellars that stretch out far beneath the town. The production begins on the ground floor of the house, where a selection of white wines (including German Riesling and French chardonnay) are mixed to produce a cuvée. Yeast and sugar is then added. The great difference between Kessler bubbly and other brands is that fermentation occurs in the bottle, meaning each bottle acquires its own distinctive personality.
Visitors can also tour the medieval wine cellars. Bottles line up as far as the eye can see, and in the eerie candlelight, with mushroom mould dripping off the ceiling, it certainly feels like the Middle Ages. If by chance you hear a shot, it's not a Kessler shoot-out, but just a bottle exploding under the pressure of it all!
The best bit, of course, is the actual tasting part, where spitting is not required. Kessler is distinctively dry with a toned-down fizz and comes in many different varieties including Chardonnay Brut, Riesling Extra Dry and Rosé Extra Dry
Should you wish to continue drinking you can join the locals by the roaring log fire of the Bubble Bar. This beautiful oak-panelled room is always cosy with people enjoying an apéritif after a hard morning's shopping.
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