Peter-Jakob Kuhn Spatburgunder Brut Rose 2007 750ml

Winery: Peter-jakob Kuhn

Varietal: Champagne Blend

Whilst Champagne sparkling wines are most commonly made with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grape varietals, there are actually seven fine grape varietals allowed by French wine law for inclusion in the wines of this region. These include Arbanne, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and and Petit Meslier alongside the others, although these four are being used less and less in the modern age. Champagnes are normally blended wines, although the popularity of single variety 'blanc de blanc' Champagnes made solely with Chardonnay grapes, and 'blanc de noir' wines made only with Pinot Noir varietal grapes are becoming more and more popular. The blending process found in most Champagnes aims to take the finest points of each grape varietal and bring them together to produce spectacular, strong yet balanced results in the bottle.

Region: Rheingau / Rheinhessen

Rheingau, on the valley sides of the beautiful Rhine river in Germany, has long since been home to many of the country's finest white wines. With a relatively small area of three thousand hectares under vine, Rheingau has always been a region more concerned with quality than quantity, and the wineries of the Rheingau region feature master wine makers with generations of experience and expertise in getting the very best flavors from their grapes. The grapes in question are almost always of the Riesling varietal, and ancient grape renowned for its dry and crisp character, and its ability to express the finest features of the terroir it grows on. In Rheingau, the terroir is nothing less than superb, featuring clear, crystal mountain waters, mineral rich soils and a mild, cool climate in which Riesling grapes flourish and thrive, producing wines of real distinction and beautiful flavours.

Country: Germany

As in many Old World countries, the rise of viticulture in Germany came about as a result of the Roman Empire, who saw the potential for vine cultivation in the vast flatlands around the base of the Rhine valley. Indeed, for over a thousand years, Germany's wine production levels were enormous, with much of the south of the country being used more or less exclusively for growing grapes. Over time, this diminished to make way for expanding cities and other types of industries, but Southern Germany remains very much an important wine region within Europe, with many beautifully balanced and flavorful German wines being prized by locals and international wine lovers alike. The hills around Baden-Baden and Mannheim are especially noteworthy, as these produce the high end of the characteristic semi-sweet white wines which couple so perfectly with German cheeses and pickled vegetables. However, all of Germany's wine producing regions have something special and unique to offer, and are a joy to explore and experience.