Rosé Tradition Brut – 2021

Rosé Tradition Brut from Griesel Sekt: copper-toned and tart

The 2021 Rosé Tradition Brut from Griesel Sekt is a sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, its color emerging only during the blending process. 6.7 grams of acidity and a dosage of 4 grams per liter result in a dry, grippy profile.

Rosé Tradition Brut 2021 is the rosé from Griesel Sekt's Tradition line; it has been on the market since spring 2024 and has continued to mature in the bottle since then. It has never been pink, as its color leans toward copper.

Rhubarb, small garden strawberries, and soft flatbread

Rhubarb arrives first, at that tart stage just before ripening, followed by small garden strawberries, like the Mieze Schindler variety, and red currants straight from the bush. Orange blossom and a herbal note hover above, with soft flatbread lying underneath.

The perlage arrives with pressure and spreads broadly across the tongue, while a mineral grip remains underneath, holding the entire sip together and keeping it from becoming too soft. You won't notice any sweetness, but rather plenty of juiciness; at 12 percent alcohol, it remains lively.

Grilled lamb chops stand up well to its fruit, as do melon with feta or a tomato salad with anchovies. Salt and roasted aromas pair with it better than anything sweet, which is why it is not well-suited for dessert.

Pressed as white, then finished with red

There are two ways to achieve the color of a rosé, and Griesel Sekt takes the second path here. Instead of letting the skins steep in the must, the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are first pressed as white, creating a pale wine from red grapes.

A portion of red wine is only added during the blending phase, just enough to shift the color. Because it comes from finished wine rather than a long period of skin contact, the color remains pale and leans toward copper, far removed from any bright pink.

Fermentation began spontaneously. The wine then lost its harsh malic acid during malolactic fermentation. Afterward, four-fifths of the base wine went into stainless steel and one-fifth into wood. The tirage was added on July 15, 2022, and there was no fining step between the barrel and the bottle.

What happens after disgorgement

Twenty months later, the yeast plug was shot from the bottle neck during disgorgement, and the Rosé Tradition went on sale at the end of March 2024. However, its maturation does not end there; it merely changes form.

While on the lees, the sediment protects the sparkling wine and imparts notes of bread and creaminess. After disgorgement, this protection is removed, and the small amount of oxygen that works its way through the closure slowly steers the aromas in a different direction.

The red fruit recedes, the 6.7 grams of acidity lose their edge, and are replaced by notes of nut, dried flowers, and the crust of fresh bread. The 4 grams of dosage carry it through this phase more effectively than a completely dry version would.

The same two varieties are in the Blanc de Noirs Tradition, just without the final splash of red wine. The Riesling Tradition 2021 heads in a completely different direction, and you can find everything else that sparkles in our range here. For this wine, time is not a danger but an ingredient that only begins to take effect after the sale.