Frucht-Secco by van Nahmen, non-alcoholic and finely sparkling
Frucht-Secco by van Nahmen is a non-alcoholic aperitif made from direct juice and fine carbonation – no other ingredients are needed. We carry three varieties: Apple-Quince, Apple-Blackcurrant-Raspberry, and Grape. Sparkling fruit in a champagne glass, for everyone at the table.
Frucht-Secco is the van Nahmen fruit press's answer to a gap at the dining table: a drink suitable for a toast that contains no alcohol. Peter van Nahmen combines single-varietal juices with fine effervescence, creating an apéro with its own character that can hold its own alongside wine.
Three varieties, three temperaments
Each of the three Seccos plays a different role at the table.
The Apple-Quince Frucht-Secco is the most elegant – golden yellow, dry-fruity, with the tart note of quince, which is reminiscent of a mature Riesling. The Apple-Blackcurrant-Raspberry Frucht-Secco, on the other hand, is the summery one: berry-red, juicy, with lively acidity.
And the Grape Frucht-Secco made from 100% organic grape juice is the mild one – pale pink and round, the most approachable of the three. Two of the varieties are certified organic; all three are made with only a handful of ingredients.
The art lies in the cuvée
A good Secco is created at the mixing console, not the carbonation valve.
The deciding factor is the cuvée: which juices go together, in what ratio, with how much carbonation? In the Apple-Quince, the quince provides structure and tartness, while the apple provides juice and sweetness. In the berry variety, the apple lays the foundation, the blackcurrant provides the acidity, and the raspberry provides the aroma. The finer the carbonation is integrated, the more elegantly the effervescence rises in the glass.
The sweetness comes solely from the fruit itself – which is why these Seccos taste dry and sophisticated. Experience has shown that anyone who gets one of these in their glass blind will first ask about the vintage.
And the ingredient list remains short: for the Grape Secco, it is two lines—juice and carbonation. For the Apple-Quince, three; for the berry cuvée, four. You can pronounce everything on the label – and no one will miss what is missing.
The apéro that excludes no one
A Frucht-Secco solves a problem every host knows.
For a long time, anyone who, for whatever reason, was not drinking alcohol was handed a glass of water or a sweet juice. Here, everyone at the table holds the same beautiful glass – well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees, in a champagne flute or white wine glass.
At the table, they pair well with appetizers, crustaceans, and seafood; the Grape variety pairs well with ice cream cake and creamy Gorgonzola Dolce, while the Apple-Quince goes with Tarte Tatin. For weddings, birthdays, New Year's Eve – wherever a champagne cork would otherwise pop, a Frucht-Secco also has its moment.
If you prefer a tea-like tannin, take a look at the Sparkling Juicy Teas – or reach for a van Nahmen nectar as a Bellini base. You can find the still classics among the van Nahmen juices.
From the orchard to the champagne glass
The fruit for the Seccos comes from the same press as the single-varietal juices.
The van Nahmen fruit press has been operating in Hamminkeln in the Lower Rhine region since 1917, now in its fourth generation. Since 1994, the company has worked with the NABU to pay a premium to fruit growers for the preservation of orchards, with 500 to 800 young trees replanted twice a year.
In 2025, the German Agricultural Society (DLG) awarded the fruit press the Federal Honorary Prize for fruit beverages – details can be found in the list of DLG award winners. You can read more about the company and its philosophy in the van Nahmen manufacturer profile.
Five days after opening, one evening at its best
A Secco should be poured slowly and chilled.
Open the bottle well chilled and pour carefully so that the mousse develops nicely. An opened 750ml bottle will keep in the refrigerator for about five days – although the effervescence is at its best on the first evening. A sprig of thyme, a slice of quince, or a fresh raspberry in the glass – this appearance needs no further decoration.
Choose your variety – and make a toast to whatever you like.
