Barth Riesling Brut: Rheingau Sparkling Done Right
Barth Riesling Brut: German sparkler from Rheingau, traditional method, 24 months on lees, organic and vegan. €19.95, with a VDP Erste/Grosse Lage first.
Mark Barth, based in Hattenheim in the Rheingau, is known at home as “The Riesling Master”. He makes something Germany has not seen before: a sparkling wine carrying VDP Erste Lage and Grosse Lage classifications, until now reserved for still wines. Amar from Bubbels van Amar imports it; during a podcast recording he slid the entry-level bottle across the table.
What’s in the bottle
- 100% Riesling from the Rheingau
- Traditional method (second fermentation in bottle)
- 24 months on lees, well past the 15-month NV Champagne minimum
- Hand-riddled and disgorged
- Fully organic and vegan, certified on the label
In the rain-prone Rheingau, organic farming is not a given; that it happens consistently here adds weight of its own.
Tasting note
Attractive colour, a nose that opens like a bunch of wildflowers. Classic Riesling: apple, lime, peach and a touch of honey. No heavy toast or oak overlap.
The palate is unmistakably Riesling, with finely integrated mousse. The remarkable bit: the acidity stays sharp and lifted despite the second fermentation, which usually flattens it. That keeps the bottle table-friendly rather than only an apéritif.
At the table
- Pike-perch or sea bass from the oven with light herb butter
- Oysters (classic; works here thanks to the citrus-mineral note)
- Spaghetti al limone: citrus on citrus, surprisingly good
- White asparagus with hollandaise
Price and position
€19.95 for Barth’s entry tier. With 24 months ageing, organic credentials and regional classification, it is a no-brainer at that price.
Available at bubbelsvanamar.nl, Amar sells online and runs tastings.
- Producer
- Wein- und Sektgut Barth
- Wine
- Riesling Brut
- Region
- Rheingau
- Country
- Germany
- Grape
- Riesling
- Price
- €19.95
- Importer
- Bubbels van Amar
Prices in this article date from April 2025. Check the current price with the seller.
Sources
- Wein- und Sektgut Barth (official, Rheingau): weingut-barth.de
- VDP Rheingau: Erste Lage / Grosse Lage classification: vdp.de
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