Blanc de Noir

"White from black" - this is the literal translation of "Blanc de Noir" and stands for a white wine made from dark blue to black grapes.

Facts

  • 100 %

    red grapes

  • 2021

    was "Blanc de Noir" redefined in terms of wine law

As the name suggests, this form of winemaking has its origins in France, where the red grapes of Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) and Pinot Meunier (Schwarzriesling) have always been processed into white wines as the basis for champagne.

This is possible because red berries generally have light flesh. The red pigment, the so-called anthocyanins, are mainly present in the berry skins. If the juice from red grapes is to remain white, no colourants from the skins may pass into the must. It is therefore important that the red grapes, which are as healthy as possible, are only pressed gently. The light colored must obtained is then fermented to a white wine. A typical Blanc de Noir has a light color and can sometimes have hints of yellow-gold.

If the cellar master leaves the squeezed red berries in the pressed juice for a little longer - the experts then speak of a longer "maceration time" – this is when a little more color passes from the skins into the must and a rosé develops.

In terms of wine law

After the 10th law amending the Wine Act came into force in January 2021, according to the new Wine Ordinance the designation "Blanc de Noir" or "Blanc de Noirs" may only be used for domestic wine, sparkling wine, quality sparkling wine or semi-sparkling wine if it is a product with a protected designation of origin (PDO) is made from fresh red wine grapes like a white wine and has the typical color of white wine.

Why Blanc de Noir?

The white wines obtained from the red grapes are characterized by their distinctive fruit aromas, pleasant freshness and moderate acidity. They combine the full flavor of a red wine with the fruitiness of a white wine and thus display the characteristics of both types. Blanc de Noirs are excellent food companions that go well with a wide range of dishes.

Flexibility and positive side effects

For winemakers who mainly cultivate red grape varieties, the production of Blanc de Noirs is also an opportunity to react flexibly to the increasing demand for white wine. On the other hand, there is a positive side effect for the production of red wine: if the light-colored must for a Blanc de Noir is removed before the maceration, the ratio of the color and tannin-containing skins to the remaining pressed juice in the mash changes. As a result, winemakers and wine lovers can enjoy more complex and color-intensive red wines.

How is Blanc de Noir defined under wine law in Germany?

According to the Wine Law, the name "Blanc de Noir" or "Blanc de Noirs" may only be used if it is a product with a protected designation of origin (PDO), pressed from fresh red grapes like a white wine and with the color typical of white wine.

a Christmassy dessert Plum roaster with cinnamon ice cream

a Christmassy dessert

  • 1 kg Zwetschgen (frisch oder TK)
  • 100 Gramm Zucker
  • 0.5 TL gemahlener Zimt
  • Eine Prise Nelkenpulver
  • 50 ml Pflaumenschnaps
  • 50 Gramm dunkler Rohrzucker
  • 2 EL alter Balsamicoessig
  • 200 Gramm Zucker
  • 4 Eigelb
  • 500 ml Sahne

Plum rings:

Wash, deseed and quarter the plums. Spread the sugar evenly in a non-stick pan and melt slowly over a medium heat. Increase the temperature and immediately add the fruit, schnapps and spices. Stir until the mixture caramelises.

Stir in the muscovado sugar and balsamic vinegar, spread onto a cold plate after approx. 3 minutes.

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<p>Cinnamon ice cream:

Combine the sugar and egg yolks and stir the two ingredients over a bain-marie until frothy.

Whip the cream, then carefully mix both mixtures and add three teaspoons of cinnamon. Carefully mix the cinnamon into the mixture again.

Pour the finished mixture into any (cake) tin or small dish, cover with aluminium foil and place in the freezer for at least three hours.

 

Place the plums on four deep plates or small bowls, cut off 2 – 3 ice lollies each and place on top, serve immediately.

  • Gewürztraminer (trocken)

with white wine Cauliflower soup

with white wine

  • 3 Stück Schalotten
  • 500 Gramm Blumenkohl
  • 20 Gramm Butter
  • 1 TL Fenchelsaat
  • 50 ml Weißwein
  • 800 ml Gemüsebrühe
  • 100 ml Schlagsahne
  • 1 Prise Zucker
  • nach Geschmack Salz & Pfeffer

Peel the shallots and cut into slices.

 

Clean and chop the cauliflower.

 

Melt the butter in a pan, sauté the shallots with the fennel seeds over a medium heat for 3 minutes until colourless. Add the cauliflower, sauté for 2 minutes, season with salt and sugar.

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<p>Deglaze with white wine, bring to the boil and top up with vegetable stock and whipping cream. Simmer over a low heat for 20 minutes.

 

Blend with a hand blender, adding stock if necessary to reach the desired consistency.

 

Serve drizzled with a few drops of olive oil.

  • Silvaner (trocken)

with apples Pork medallions

with apples

  • 8 Stück Schweinemedaillons
  • 500 Gramm Bandnudeln
  • 2 große Äpfel
  • 200 ml Sahne
  • 10 Blättchen frischer Salbei
  • 4 Zweige frischer Thymian
  • nach Geschmack Zucker
  • 3 EL Calvados
  • 1 EL Öl
  • zum Abschmecken Salz & Pfeffer

Slightly pepper and salt the medallions on both sides. Pluck the thyme, cut the sage into fine strips and roll the medallions in the herbs. Fry the meat in a pan with a little oil on both sides, not too hot, until it starts to colour. Remove from the pan and place on a preheated tray in the oven at 100 °C until cooked through.

 

Cook the tagliatelle al dente and keep warm.

 

In the meantime, peel the apples and cut into slices approx. 1.5 cm wide. Reheat the meat pan and add the apple slices. After about half a minute, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar over the apples and allow them to caramelise. After a minute, deglaze the apple slices with a generous dash of Calvados and flambé. Add the cream and flavour with salt and pepper.

 

Remove the fillet from the oven. Add the meat juices from the oven dish to the sauce and serve the fillets with the tagliatelle, apple slices and Calvados apple sauce.

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  • Riesling (trocken)

with pumpkin and white wine sauce Pasta with pumpkin and white wine sauce

with pumpkin and white wine sauce

  • 750 Gramm Butternut-Kürbis(se)
  • 3 kleine Zwiebeln
  • 2 Zehen Knoblauch
  • 1 Becher Crème fraîche
  • 250 ml trockener Weißwein
  • 500 ml Gemüsebrühe
  • 25 Gramm Parmesan oder ähnlicher Hartkäse
  • 400 Gramm Spaghetti oder andere Nudeln
  • nach Geschmack Salz, Pfeffer, Zucker
  • 4 EL Kürbiskerne, evtl. gehackt
  • nach Belieben Muskat, Thymian

Sauté the garlic and onions until translucent. Dice the butternut squash and add, season with pepper and sugar. When the cubes are still firm, pour in the white wine and vegetable stock. Continue cooking until the squash is firm to the bite.

 

In the meantime, cook and drain the pasta.

 

Add the thyme, nutmeg, salt and crème fraîche to the boiling pumpkin, bring to the boil and thicken. Stir in the parmesan and season to taste. You can also crush some diced pumpkin to make the sauce sweeter.

 

Arrange the pasta on plates and top with the pumpkin sauce.

Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.

  • Scheurebe (trocken)