Leitz NA Sparkling Blanc de Blanc

Leitz's non-alcoholic sparkling blanc de blancs comes from Rüdesheim in the Rheingau, a region best known for Riesling. The blanc de blancs label means it is made from white grapes only, with no red-skinned varieties in the blend. It is positioned as an alcohol-free alternative to dry sparkling wine. The details supplied don't name the grape variety, dosage level or production method, so the notes below describe what dealcoholized sparkling wines in this style usually offer. They are not measured figures for this bottle. Expect a pale, bright colour and a lively mousse. Aromas typically run to green apple, pear, citrus peel and a faint white-blossom note. Dealcoholized sparkling wines usually have a lighter body than their alcoholic counterparts. The acidity does most of the structural work, and Rheingau fruit tends to keep that acidity crisp. There is no tannin and no meaningful oak influence in a white-grape sparkler like this. The finish is generally short to medium and clean, with a touch of citrus bitterness at the end. If the bottle is labelled off-dry, you will taste more rounded fruit and less edge. Check the label for the sweetness level, since it shapes which dishes work best. Serve it well chilled, at roughly 6 to 8°C. Cold temperatures keep the bubbles fine and the acidity precise, and a warmer pour can taste sweeter and flatter. There is no reason to decant a sparkling wine. Pour it straight from the bottle and keep it cold between servings, in a bucket of ice and water if you are pouring over a long meal. A tulip-shaped flute or a smaller white-wine glass suits it best. Both concentrate the apple and citrus aromas and show off the bead of bubbles. Avoid the wide coupe, which lets the fizz disperse quickly. For food, the acidity and light body point toward salty and fried dishes: oysters, smoked salmon blinis, tempura vegetables, fish and chips, salted nuts and soft fresh cheeses such as chèvre or burrata. Light seafood salads and sushi also work. Skip heavily spiced or very sweet dishes, which will overwhelm a delicate bottle. It also makes a sound base for spritz-style drinks. Add a splash of elderflower cordial or a squeeze of lemon if you want something more aromatic. This is a drink-now wine. Non-alcoholic sparkling wines don't have the structure or preservatives for cellaring, and they are at their freshest in the months after release. Store the bottle upright in a cool, dark place, and drink it within a day or two of opening, ideally with a proper sparkling-wine stopper fitted in between.