Praeclarus Brut DOC - Kellerei St. Pauls

Tingling elegance from the Dolomites: Praeclarus Brut DOC - Kellerei St. Pauls shows a pale straw yellow in the glass with a fine, persistent perlage. The delicate bubbles rise in dense streams and form a creamy crown. At first glance, its noble origin from the cool high altitudes of Alto Adige is revealed, where Chardonnay develops taut freshness and precise fruit.

On the nose, a lively, clear aromatic picture unfolds. Juicy grapefruit meets crisp green apple and fresh lemon. Notes of lime zest, ripe pear and a hint of white peach join in. Fine floral nuances of white blossoms and acacia hover in the background. A cool, salty minerality is reminiscent of mountain air and pale rocks. Subtle yeast tones of brioche and fresh baguette round off the bouquet and lend depth.

On the palate, Praeclarus Brut DOC - Kellerei St. Pauls presents a stylish combination of freshness, finesse and creaminess. The brut style with around five grams of residual sugar appears wonderfully dry and clear. The acidity is precise, finely polished and very well integrated. In this way, the wine radiates taut tension without ever seeming harsh. The creamy texture stems from the long contact with the lees and lays itself over the palate like silk.

The aromas from the nose repeat with impressive precision. Grapefruit and lemon provide cool citrus freshness. Green apple adds bite and liveliness. Ripe pear and a hint of mirabelle plum contribute juiciness and charm. A touch of almond appears, along with fine yeast notes of brioche and a hint of roasted nut. In the finish, the wine shows a subtle note of wet stones, reminiscent of the mineral soils of clay and sand. The style appears clear, elegant, very linear and at the same time surprisingly deep.

This Alto Adige Chardonnay sparkling wine shows the typical profile of the grape variety from a cool, alpine climate. Here Chardonnay delivers:

• taut, citrus-driven freshness with grapefruit and lemon
• crisp apple aromas and fine stone-fruit notes
• a clear structure with elegant acidity and creamy texture
• subtle yeast aromas of brioche and biscuit
• high finesse and great ageing potential on the lees

The style of the wine is thoroughly “Old World”: more tension than sweetness, more minerality than upfront fruit. The body is medium-weight, the perlage delicate yet very present. On the palate, a cool, clear impression spreads, almost like a fresh breeze from the mountains. The finish is long, citrus-fresh and slightly salty, with a hint of almond skin and white blossom.

Thus, Praeclarus Brut DOC - Kellerei St. Pauls becomes a versatile companion for enjoyment. It accompanies refined dishes, enhances special moments and adds a touch of Dolomite magic to every toast.

1. As a stylish aperitif with alpine charm
2. As a pairing with light starters and fish
3. As a festive sparkle at weddings, anniversaries or birthdays
4. As an elegant gift for lovers of cool Chardonnay sparkling wines

Production of Praeclarus Brut DOC by Kellerei St. Pauls

The grapes for this DOC sparkling wine come from selected vineyards in Alto Adige around St. Pauls. The alpine climate with cool nights and sunny days ensures slow, even ripening. This keeps the acidity fresh while the aromas develop finely. The clay and sand soils store warmth and water very well. They give the vines support and lend the grapes their typical mineral imprint.

Chardonnay shows its full class in this region. The vines often stand on slopes with good ventilation. This protects against heat and preserves aromatic clarity. Kellerei St. Pauls selects parcels that produce particularly fresh, structured base wines. The goal is a sparkling wine with highland freshness, fine perlage and elegant depth.

The harvest is selective, usually in the cool morning hours. This ensures the grapes reach the cellar as fresh as possible. The harvest date is deliberately chosen rather early. This keeps the natural acidity lively and the citrus fruit present. Only ripe grapes are pressed. Work in the vineyard is careful, with an eye on ripe aromatics and stable acidity.

In the cellar, the whole grapes are gently pressed. The pressing pressure remains low so that only the finest must goes into the base wine. After brief clarification by sedimentation, the must ferments at controlled temperature in stainless-steel tanks. This preserves the freshness and allows primary aromas such as grapefruit, apple and lemon to come to the fore clearly.

After the first fermentation, the base wine is created, which later goes into the bottle for the second fermentation. Kellerei St. Pauls relies on the traditional method with bottle fermentation. The base wine receives the tirage with yeast and sugar. It then matures for several months, sometimes years, on the lees in the bottle. This long contact with the lees imparts the creamy texture, the fine perlage and the delicate notes of brioche and biscuit.

During bottle ageing, regular riddling takes place, either traditionally or in a gyropalette. The yeast collects in the neck of the bottle and is expelled at the end through disgorgement. The dosage for Praeclarus remains low. This creates the brut style with around five grams of residual sugar. This style showcases the alpine freshness, the citrus fruit and the minerality to impressive effect.

The philosophy of Kellerei St. Pauls is focused on precision and faithfulness to origin. The winegrowers emphasize the alpine character, the clarity of the fruit and the cool, mineral core. Maturation in stainless steel instead of wood protects the citrus freshness and preserves the lively acidity structure. The result is a sparkling wine with a clear terroir character that makes Alto Adige tangible in the glass.

Serving recommendations for Praeclarus Brut DOC by Kellerei St. Pauls

Praeclarus Brut is excellently suited as an elegant aperitif. Its fresh citrus fruit and fine perlage stimulate and prepare the palate for the menu. It shows great talent alongside light starters such as fresh goat cheese on leafy salad, scallop carpaccio or salmon tartare. The clear acidity cuts delicately through creamy textures and lifts the aromas of the dishes.

This sparkling wine pairs particularly well with fish dishes. Pan-fried gilt-head bream with lemon risotto, grilled sea bass with herbs or poached cod with vegetable broth gain a fresh accent from the wine. Seafood such as prawns, scallops or grilled octopus also match wonderfully, especially with lemon zest or Mediterranean herbs.

Praeclarus Brut is an equally harmonious partner for poultry dishes. Tender chicken with lemon thyme, turkey breast with vegetables or a light poultry salad with apple and celery appear in fine harmony alongside it. The creamy perlage balances light sauces, while the citrus fruit enlivens light meat dishes.

Vegetarian cuisine also benefits from its freshness. Risotto with green asparagus, lemon tagliatelle with baby spinach or vegetable tempura are particularly appealing with it. Sushi and sashimi are also an ideal match, especially versions with salmon, tuna or avocado. The clear acidity takes up soy and ginger elegantly, while the perlage feels smooth.

As a cheese companion, Praeclarus Brut is suitable for mild, creamy varieties. Fresh goat cheese, young Taleggio, Brie or Burrata provide a fine stage. The citrus freshness forms an exciting contrast to the creaminess of the cheese.

As a festive sparkling wine, it accompanies receptions, weddings, birthdays or company celebrations. It suits celebratory occasions with high standards and style. As a gift for lovers of Italian wines from the north, it strikes a chord with many connoisseurs.

The ideal serving temperature is between eight and ten degrees. This allows the wine to present its freshness and at the same time its fine yeast notes. A short time in the cooler before serving brings the perfect balance. A gentle swirl in the glass opens up the aromas further. A slender sparkling wine glass or an elegant flute glass is very suitable. Slightly bulbous sparkling wine glasses also bring out more depth.

With cool, light-protected storage, Praeclarus Brut matures very nicely over several years. The fruit then recedes somewhat. The yeast notes of brioche and nut gain space and add even more complexity. Thus, this DOC sparkling wine from Alto Adige already offers great enjoyment when young and at the same time develops intriguing nuances over several years.

• More products from Kellerei St. Pauls