A bottle slides across the table. Not Champagne, not Crémant, but a sparkling Riesling from the German Rheingau. Amar of Bubbels van Amar opens the Barth Riesling Brut and explains why a German sparkler at nineteen ninety-five made him sit up. Its maker, Mark Barth, is called the Riesling Master at home, and this wine carries something Germany had not seen before: a sparkling wine with VDP Erste Lage and Grosse Lage classification.
Who is Amar
Amar did not come up through the wine trade. His route started with a holiday in Italy in 2023, where the sparkling wines outside the Champagne region caught his attention. What began as a hobby grew into Bubbels van Amar: an importer focused on sparkling wines from across Europe, with a preference for makers who put quality before name.
His conviction is that good bubbles are not tied to one region. Champagne sets the standard, but places like the Rheingau deliver bottles that come surprisingly close with the same method and longer ageing, often at a friendlier price. Amar sells online and runs tastings to put those bottles in front of people.
What you learn in this episode
- Why a sparkling Riesling from the Rheingau deserves a serious place at the table
- What the VDP Erste Lage and Grosse Lage classification means and why a sparkler carrying it is a first
- How 24 months on lees shapes the wine, well past the 15-month NV Champagne minimum
- Why organic farming in the rain-prone Rheingau is not a given
- How Amar went from wine lover to importer, starting with a holiday in Italy
- Where the nineteen ninety-five price positions the wine against Champagne and Crémant
In the glass
Attractive colour, a nose that opens like a bunch of wildflowers. Classic Riesling aromas: apple, lime, peach and a touch of honey. No heavy toast or oak overlap pushing the fruit aside.
The palate is unmistakably Riesling, with finely integrated mousse. The remarkable part sits in the acidity: it stays sharp and lifted despite the second fermentation, which usually flattens it. That keeps the bottle table-friendly rather than only an apéritif. A sparkler that works alongside food as well as before it.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Barth Riesling Brut special?
It is the first and only sparkling wine in Germany with a VDP Erste Lage and Grosse Lage classification, until now reserved for still wines. On top of that it is 100% Riesling, organic, vegan and aged 24 months on lees.
Who makes this wine?
Mark Barth, based in Hattenheim in the Rheingau, known at home as the Riesling Master. His house, Wein- und Sektgut Barth, combines organic farming with the traditional method.
How long is the wine aged on lees?
24 months, well past the 15-month minimum that applies to non-vintage Champagne. That extra time gives the wine more depth without losing its Riesling freshness.
Where can I buy Barth Riesling Brut?
Through bubbelsvanamar.nl. Amar sells online and runs tastings where you can try the bottle before you buy.
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