Henkell

A SPLASH OF GLAMOUR COMES NATURALLY TO THIS INTERNATIONAL STAR KNOWN FOR ITS APPEAL AND CHARACTER. RECOGNISED IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES, HENKELL STANDS FOR DRY PERFECTION AND THE BEST OF GERMAN SPARKLING WINE CULTURE.

Marble Hall entrance to Henkell’s Headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany IN 1832, SOON AFTER MOVING TO France from his hometown Mainz, wine merchant Adam Henkell founded the wine company known as the House of Henkell. Twenty-five years later, after learning the art of Champagne production in France, he set about producing sparkling wine in his native Germany. One of the first in Germany to master the skilled production, Henkell recognised the market for a quality German sparkling wine. What came next was the marriage of two worlds: French wine culture, and German master craftsmanship.

The history began in 1832 when Henkell opened a wine store in the city of Mainz. Over 20 years later in 1856, he launched the production of his own sparkling wine. In 1909, Henkell & Co. moved into its prestigious headquarters newly constructed in the city of Wiesbaden (located on the river Rhine). It is the fleur de lis derived from the Wiesbaden coat of arms that graces Henkell bottles to this day.

At the end of the nineteenth Century, under the direction of Adam’s grandson Otto, Henkell Trocken became the first branded sparkling wine, and in 1898 one of the first officially protected German brand names.

Superior and stylish advertising campaigns soon made Henkell synonymous with premium dry sparkling wine over a wide area. By 1910, Henkell was already the market leader in Germany. The next coup came in 1935, when Henkell developed the 200ml bottle trademarked ‘Pikkolo’. After the Second World War, Henkell and especially ‘Pikkolo’ became an integral part of the German economic miracle, and now the sparkling wine market is simply unimaginable without them.

Producing a great brand of sparkling wine is an art in its own right. The key is using the right cuvée so as to craft anew each time the characteristic taste of the brand. Henkell winemakers are consummate masters of this art, whose skill guarantees sparkling wine lovers around the world enjoyment of the genuine and inimitable Henkell taste every time.

The art of making sparkling wine begins with the selection of the base wines. The composition is crucial for ensuring a final product of consistently high quality. Henkell Trocken is exclusively made from the finest white wines from renowned European winegrowing regions. You can simply taste the quality: Fresh. Harmonious. Balanced. A lively, fruity and zesty bouquet, golden yellow in colour with green reflexes. Fine fizzy bubbles for long-lasting sparkling wine pleasure.

What makes Henkell so distinct for a sekt, the German term for quality sparkling wine, is its use of the Charmat method. Henkell uses a slow, natural fermentation over six months in Charmat stainless steel tanks before being bottled and aged for a further minimum of three months. This unique method of producing high quality sekt gives Henkell the complexity of champagne, but with a fruit-forward lightness that is distinctly German, and uniquely Henkell.

Today, Henkell has taken on a new, stylish and modern look. It sports a slimmer and elegantly shaped bottle, that highlights its distinctive handwritten name. The new style is tied in with the spirited slogan “MAKING LIFE SPARKLE SINCE 1856”, underscoring Henkell’s high standards of quality. The bottle design might have been updated, but the quality inside is historic. Then, as now, the very best base wines are used to achieve a one-of-a-kind taste through master craftsmanship. ❧

Tasting notes

HENKELL TROCKEN

Appearance: A crisp, light yellow with green tinges

Aroma: Clean, rich and finished with fruity hints of ripe pear and green apple

Flavour: Smooth and creamy with a refreshing taste, this dry, full-bodied wine evokes a subtle fragrance suggestive of tropical fruit, leaving a delicious lingering finish