# Knewitz Riesling Sekt Brut (2021)

- **Producer:** Weingut Knewitz
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Riesling
- **Region:** Rheinhessen, Germany
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €18
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** grapefruit, peach, apricot, lemon, brioche, pastry, biscuit, petrol (gasoline), almond

## About this wine

The Knewitz Riesling Sekt Brut is a sparkling white wine from Rheinhessen, Germany, crafted from 100% Riesling grapes. The Knewitz family, with Tobias Knewitz leading since 2009, focuses on near-natural cultivation and expressing the limestone-rich terroir of their estate. Their vineyards are located in the Welzbach Valley, with a substantial part situated on pure limestone, contributing to the wine's distinctive minerality and tension. The 2021 vintage is noted for its youthful energy and precise flavors. This Sekt is produced using traditional bottle fermentation and aged on lees, contributing to its complexity and texture.

## Interesting facts

- Grapes are hand-picked from vines in the Welzbach Valley.
- The soil composition includes white and reddish limestone, clay, marl, and iron ore.
- A significant portion of the Knewitz vineyard is planted on pure limestone.
- This Sekt undergoes its second fermentation directly in the bottle.

## Food pairing

The wine's vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of fatty foods like pork belly and oily fish, while its minerality complements the brininess of seafood. Citrus notes in the wine can echo citrus elements in dishes, and its crispness provides a refreshing contrast to spicy or creamy sauces.

## Wine making process

The Knewitz Riesling Sekt Brut is produced from hand-picked Riesling grapes from the Welzbach Valley, which are whole cluster pressed. The must undergoes natural fermentation in stainless steel tanks. A second fermentation takes place in the bottle, followed by an aging period on lees for 18 to 30 months. This process results in a sparkling wine with a creamy texture and complex character.