Jörg Geiger Cuvée No. 31 non-alcoholic. A non-alcoholic cuvée made from apple, pear, and cold-brewed Darjeeling green tea – floral, mineral, with a creamy finish.

Jörg Geiger Cuvée No. 31 non-alcoholic is a sparkling, juice-based cuvée from Schlat in the Swabian Jura: 45% apple juice, pear and peach juice, a cold infusion of green Darjeeling tea, herbs, and spices, 0.0% vol, 750 ml. Not an iced tea, not a sparkling wine – a food companion with the scent of lemon balm and marigold.

Cuvée No. 31 by Jörg Geiger belongs to the numbered cuvées that the manufactory composes for fine dining and menu pairings. They are intentionally kept separate from the PriSecco brand. At Jörg Geiger, a non-alcoholic cuvée is a sparkling, juice-based beverage: juices from heritage fruit varieties, balanced with herbs and spices, with added carbonation. Number 31 introduces tea into the mix. Green Darjeeling is cold-extracted—meaning it is steeped in cold water rather than brewed—and combined with water and apple, pear, and peach juice. Darjeeling grows in tea gardens in the Indian Himalayas and is known for its delicate floral leaf. It's Friday night, there's sushi on the table, and the glass next to it smells of a herb garden and tea leaves.

Taste

The initial aroma is fresh, reminiscent of lemon balm and marigold, followed by slightly tart notes of delicately floral Darjeeling tea leaves. On the palate, it reveals a harmonious, mild interplay of sweetness and acidity. The tart notes of the green tea linger, feeling mineral and finishing with a creamy, rounded quality. With 7.7 g of sugar per 100 ml, derived from the juices, it maintains a balance between fruit and tea.

Teasecco also uses green tea. It is organic, contains dealcoholized apple wine, and focuses on a delicately sweet opening with peach. Number 31 is more floral and mineral, with lemon balm instead of fruit in the foreground. Those expecting a robust fruit sweetness will find more of a tea garden here than an orchard.

Usage

Serve the cuvée at 8 to 10 °C in a sparkling wine glass. Jörg Geiger recommends it with a pea velouté with North Sea shrimp or crayfish, and with sushi and sashimi. Both rely on delicacy, and this cuvée accompanies them quietly rather than taking over. A risotto with green asparagus also pairs well with the tea note.

At home, it works anywhere you would otherwise have a light, dry white wine. This could be a spring soup, fish fillet with herbs, or an evening with maki and nigiri from your favorite local shop. As an aperitif, it remains subtle and whets the appetite.

Our tip: Add a few finely chopped lemon balm leaves to the pea soup. The lemon balm from the nose is then echoed on the plate.

Origin

The base of the cuvée consists of apples and pears from Swabian "WiesenObst" (meadow fruit). This is what the Jörg Geiger manufactory in Schlat on the edge of the Swabian Jura calls the old, often tart varieties from tall-trunked trees in meadow orchards, supplied by local farmers. Pressing, composing, and bottling all take place at the manufactory.

Jörg Geiger is a trained chef and took over his parents' inn, the Lamm, in 1997 at the age of 22. In 2003, he bottled his first non-alcoholic PriSecco, and in 2009, he introduced his first numbered cuvée, No. 7, then made from plum, Gelbmöstler pear, and lemon verbena. Many numbers have been added since, each with its own concept. With No. 31, the vision extends beyond the Swabian Jura all the way to Darjeeling.

For whom

For anyone seeking a non-alcoholic glass with depth to pair with fine fish dishes and Japanese cuisine. For tea drinkers who want to experience green tea in a sparkling form, and for hosts who want to pour something unique with a light menu. For those who prefer more herbs and a nutty, grain-like note, try the Organic Cuvée 28 with ground elder and roasted emmer. You can find all the cuvées on our Jörg Geiger page.

This cuvée is not suitable for those who do not care for green tea – the tea note persists into the finish.

Lemon balm, marigold, and green Darjeeling over apple and pear – the non-alcoholic cuvée for sushi, shrimp, and pea soup.