van Nahmen Grape Fruit Secco. Non-alcoholic organic fruit secco made from grape juice – mild, fruity, and with a delicate sweetness.

van Nahmen Grape Fruit Secco is a sparkling organic fruit secco made from grape juice and carbonation, pressed by the van Nahmen fruit press in Hamminkeln in the Lower Rhine region. According to the manufacturer, it contains 0% alcohol and comes in a 0.75-l sparkling wine bottle. Fruity and mild, with a delicate sweetness – the secco for dessert and cheese courses.

van Nahmen Grape Fruit Secco is essentially grape juice in a festive dress. The list of ingredients has exactly two entries: organic grape juice and carbonation. It never turns into wine; according to the manufacturer, no alcohol is produced during the process. The grapes are harvested fully ripe, with the harvest time chosen to ensure their refreshing acidity is preserved. This results in a mild, sweet aroma. The meal is almost over; a piece of Gorgonzola and the remains of the ice cream cake are on the table: now is the moment for this glass.

Taste

The Grape Fruit Secco tastes mild and fruity, with a fine sweetness. On the nose, the tasting notes reveal red grapes, rhubarb, and strawberry. Underlying this are hints of vanilla sponge and a caramelized sweetness. The acidity of the grapes keeps the drink fresh, while the perlage makes it lively.

According to the manufacturer, this is the variety for everyone who prefers things fruity and a little sweeter. If you are expecting a tart, dry sparkling wine substitute, it is better to choose the Apple-Quince variety. Here, the ripe fruit is the center of attention, supported by a fine, consistent perlage.

Usage

Serve the secco well-chilled at 8 to 10 °C in a sparkling wine glass. It works just as well as an aperitif as it does for a toast. However, its true strength lies at the end of a meal. Van Nahmen recommends it with cheese, as well as with fruits and desserts.

The tasting note becomes specific: Fürst-Pückler ice cream cake with its three layers of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Pair it with blue cheeses like Gorgonzola Dolce or Fourme d'Ambert and sweet fruit desserts. The sweetness in the glass balances the saltiness of the cheese, while the acidity keeps up with the cake. Strawberry-rhubarb pudding with vanilla sauce also picks up directly on the aromas from the nose. For summer, a peach crumble with vanilla ice cream or a fruit salad with melon, grapes, and fresh mint are also excellent choices.

Keep an opened bottle well sealed in the refrigerator. According to the manufacturer, it tastes best within five days.

Our tip: To finish off an evening, prepare a cheese board with Gorgonzola Dolce, pear slices, and a spoonful of honey. Serve with a glass of Grape – sweet meets savory, it's a perfect match.

Origin

The van Nahmen fruit press has been based in Hamminkeln since 1917, now in its fourth generation. Dr. Peter van Nahmen has been in management since 2005, and today he runs the company with his wife, Sabine. Under his leadership, the concept of "juice as an indulgence" took center stage: juice that tastes of its variety, just like wine. In 2007, the press produced its first pure juice from the Rote Sternrenette apple variety, limited to 7,409 bottles. These direct juices now form the basis for the fruit seccos, bottled with carbonation in sparkling wine bottles.

The Grape variety carries the EU organic seal; the organic inspection body is DE-ÖKO-007. According to the manufacturer, the secco is vegan. You can also sample the seccos on-site at the farm shop in Hamminkeln. From April to December, there is an open fruit juice tasting in the farm kitchen on the second Saturday of every month.

For whom

The Grape Secco is for everyone who likes a fruity toast without the alcohol. It is suitable for family celebrations, New Year's Eve, coffee gatherings, and the cheese course of a meal. Guests who usually prefer sweet sparkling wine will also enjoy this. For something tarter and drier, try the Apple-Quince Fruit Secco. For a berry-forward profile with red currant and raspberry, there is the Apple-Currant-Raspberry Fruit Secco. You can find the complete assortment from van Nahmen with us. It is not recommended for those looking for a tart glass to pair with fish and seafood – it is too sweet for that.

Ripe grapes, fine perlage, delicate sweetness – the non-alcoholic organic fruit secco from Hamminkeln for cheese, ice cream cake, and the final toast of the evening.