Kohl Grand Cru is Thomas Kohl's smallest line and his most personal one: two single-varietal mountain apple juices made from old apple varieties, naturally cloudy, unfiltered, and available exclusively in magnum bottles. There are no more Grand Crus from Kohl, and that is by design.
Two old varieties in a magnum
The Ananasrenette originates from the Benelux countries and has been cultivated in the Rhineland since 1820. When warm, the fruit actually smells of pineapple; the juice features notes of citrus fruits and blackcurrant. The Wintercalville was bred in France before 1600 and is nicknamed the "paradise apple" – its flesh is tender and fine, and the juice evokes white peach and yellow plum.
Both varieties grow on the Renon plateau at an altitude of just over 900 to nearly 1,000 meters in Kohl's own orchards. Both are hand-picked, pressed as single-varietal juices, left naturally cloudy, and gently pasteurized in the bottle. Both are Thomas Kohl's favorites – which is why he deliberately fills them into magnums, 1.5 liters, as one is otherwise accustomed to with wine.
The large bottle demonstrates the quality of these juices and suits the occasion: A Grand Cru is opened when guests are at the table. Serve it at 8 to 12 degrees Celsius in a stemmed glass. If you prefer smaller bottles, you can find the single-varietal juices for every day at Kohl Gourmet.
