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Sekt gets Serious!
Last month (July 2018), the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates, or VDP) has established a set of classifications—along with some strict regulations—regarding Sekt (sparkling wines) produced by its member estates.
The four levels of Sekt Classification mirror the already-established levels of the VDP pyramid for still wine and include (in increasing order of quality) VDP Gutswein, VDP Ortswein, VDP Erste Lage, and VDP Grosse Lage. All VDP Sekt must be harvested by hand, pressed via whole cluster pressing, and made using the traditional method (second fermentation in the bottle) of sparkling wine production. Additional regulations include the following:
- VDP Sekt Gutswein: Grapes must stem from Gutswein-designated estate vineyards, and the wine must be aged on the lees for a minimum of 15 months.
- VDP Sekt Ortswein: Grapes must stem from Ortswein-designated estate vineyards, and the wine must be aged on the lees for a minimum of 15 months.
- VDP Sekt Erste Lage: Grapes must stem from Erste Lage-designated estate vineyards, and the wine must be aged on the lees for a minimum of 36 months.
- VDP Sekt Grosse Lage: Grapes must stem from Grosse Lage-designated estate vineyards, and the wine must be aged on the lees for a minimum of 36 months.
According to the website of the VDP, the focus of this new quality strategy is “good sekt from the beginning”. Further details regarding the qualifications for each level of the VDP Sekt classifications may be found in the official documentation of the VDP Sekt Statute (see below).
References/for more information:
- https://www.vdp.de/en/news/details/artikel/vdppraedikatsweingueter-beschliessen-eigene-sektklassifikation-auf-grundlage-der-vdpherkunftspyramide/
- VDP Sekt Statute – English
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org