Kohl Apple Juice with Pear. A fruit juice cuvée made from mountain apple juice and pear purée – pale yellow, velvety and round.

Kohl Apple Juice with Pear is a cuvée made from 75% mountain apple juice and 25% pear purée by Thomas Kohl from Auna di Sotto on the Renon plateau in South Tyrol. The 750 ml bottle contains only fruit, with no added sugar, preservatives, or additives.

Apple juice with pear from Kohl contradicts an old saying. Comparing apples and pears is considered nonsensical. In this bottle, they are brought together entirely, and the result shows how well the two types of pome fruit complement each other. The apple provides elegance and acidity; the pear provides sweetness and body. The ratio is clear: three-quarters mountain apple juice, one-quarter pear purée. Purée means that the pear is finely mashed before entering the cuvée, rather than just being added as a clear juice. This is the source of its velvety consistency. In Kohl's assortment, this bottle belongs to the CUVÉE line, while the GOURMET line features single-variety apple juices.

Taste

The cuvée tastes velvety, round, and full, with a very long finish. In the glass, it displays a pale yellow color.

Even on the nose, according to the manufacturer, the mild, sweet pear aroma is evident, despite the pear making up only a quarter of the blend. On the palate, the sun-ripened mountain apples with their fresh acidity form a smooth base. The pear then layers itself on top with sweetness and creaminess. This makes the juice feel soft, but never sticky. In the finish, the pear remains perceptible for a long time. Those looking for a tangy, acidity-driven apple juice will be less satisfied with this cuvée. Those who love pears will get them here in an elegant, ready-to-drink form. And those who usually drink apple juice will discover a softer side to it.

Usage

Serve the apple juice with pear at 8 to 10 °C in a stemmed glass. Thomas Kohl recommends it with savory dishes, smoked meat, spicy cheeses, and chocolate. The sweetness of the pear creates a counterpoint to salt and smoke. Think of a rustic platter with South Tyrolean speck and smoked sausages, Kasseler pork chops with sauerkraut, or smoked duck breast on lamb's lettuce. For cheese, it pairs well with strong mountain cheese, a spicy blue cheese, or aged Pecorino. At the end of a meal, it accompanies a piece of dark chocolate or a Poire Belle-Hélène.

Once opened, keep the bottle in the refrigerator and consume within six days, according to the manufacturer. Unopened, it should be stored in a cool, dark place.

Our tip: Set stemmed glasses on the table for a rustic platter with speck, mountain cheese, and Schüttelbrot flatbread, and pour the pear cuvée chilled. The sweetness in the glass balances out the salt and smoke.

Origin

The apple juice for this cuvée comes from the Troidner fruit farm in Auna di Sotto on the Renon. The orchards are located at almost 1,000 meters above sea level above Bolzano. Harvesting takes place between August and October, with each tree picked in two to three passes and every apple individually by hand. Things then move quickly: a few hours after harvest, the apples are checked, washed, milled, and pressed on the farm. The fresh juice then rests until the sediment has settled. Thomas Kohl describes this as a natural filtration process. Before bottling, the juice is heated to make it shelf-stable. In the cuvée, this mountain apple juice meets the pear purée. Thus, the bottle combines the acidity of the high altitude with the soft sweetness of the pear.

For whom

Kohl Apple Juice with Pear is for anyone looking for a soft, fruity juice to accompany savory food. It pairs well with a snack, a cheese platter, and winter evenings with smoked goods. According to the manufacturer, the juice contains none of the 14 main allergens and carries the vegan label of the European Vegetarian Union. Single-variety and with a pear-scented bouquet, the Mountain Apple Juice Jonagold is available. With apricot instead of pear, the Apple Juice with Apricot enters the glass. All cuvées can be found on our page for Kohl Mountain Apple Juice. It is not suitable for those who want a clear, single-variety apple juice.

Mountain apple juice and pear purée, 750 ml from Renon – velvety and round, a juice for speck, mountain cheese, and dark chocolate.