Fancy a taste of history and effervescence? Right here in Stuttgart, a sparkling tale begins. It revolves around Sektkellerei Kessler. This isn’t just any winery. Sektkellerei Kessler is Germany’s oldest sparkling wine producer.
In 1826 Georg Christian Kessler established his Sektkellerei Kessler. He did so after gaining expertise at Veuve Clicquot. He aimed to bring sparkling wine to everyone not just the elite.
Kessler Sekt prides itself on using traditional methods. The company values bottle fermentation. They never compromise quality for quantity. Some bottles are still hand-rattled. This adheres to the méthode traditionelle from Champagne. The winery ages wines in medieval cellars under the Kessler house. These cellars are located at Esslingen’s market square.
Georg Christian Kessler worked at Veuve Clicquot before founding Kessler Sekt. He was a bookkeeper there in 1807. By 1815, he became a managing director. Kessler successfully built Veuve Clicquot’s international business. He focused on Russia. In 1821, he even had the chance to take over the entire company.
He chose a different path. On July 1 1826, Kessler started G. C. Kessler & Compagnie. It was located in a former wine press of Speyrer Pfleghof. Here, the first German sparkling wine came to life. It used Esslingen Frühburgunder wine. The Rheinische Provinzialblätter newspaper reported its immediate success.
Kessler’s commitment earned him recognition. In 1827, King Wilhelm I of Württemberg awarded him a medal. Export to Russia, Great Britain, and the USA began in 1829. In 1832, Kessler bought the first vaulted cellars. These cellars were located in Speyrer Pfleghof. It remains Kessler’s headquarters today.
The brand name “Kessler Cabinet” emerged in 1850. It appeared at the Leipzig Trade Fair. It also appeared on restaurant menus. This makes it Germany’s oldest known Sekt brand. Kessler received a silver medal at the Paris World Exhibition in 1867. He won in the “Vins mousseux” category.
Kessler became a royal supplier in 1881. This was for the court of Württemberg. King Wilhelm II and Queen Charlotte visited the cellars in 1893.
In 1904, Kessler acquired Sektkellerei Rottweil. In 1929, “Kessler Hochgewächs” was served on the airship Graf Zeppelin. Even the Dornier Do X passenger plane offered Kessler Sekt. After a visit in 1956, Konrad Adenauer chose “Kessler Hochgewächs”. It became the official Sekt for government receptions.
Financial difficulties led to insolvency in 2004. However, in 2005, the company was relaunched. It became Kessler Sekt GmbH & Co. KG. In May 2021, Kessler opened a flagship store in Stuttgart. It’s located on Calwer Straße 58.
The brand’s logo features two small waiters. They are called “Piccolos”. They rush over with a Sekt cooler. Josef Benedikt Engl created them in 1904. They evolved into Kessler’s trademark.
Kessler offers a variety of Sekt lines. These include Klassik, Prestige, and Vintage. Kessler “Hochgewächs” became known as “Kanzler-Sekt”. This was after Konrad Adenauer’s visit. Today, Kessler continues Georg Christian Kessler’s tradition. He brought the méthode traditionelle to Germany.
So raise a glass to Sektkellerei Kessler. Here is to history and bubbles. Here is to Stuttgart’s sparkling legacy.