What has in common "love", Austrian Sekt and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson? The answer is Schlumberger Sekt!
Robert Alwin Schlumberger, the founder of the Schlumberger House, in 1841, has met on a boat trip his future wife Sophie Kirchner from Vienna and felt in love with her. Later on, he decided to move to Vienna and produce sparkling wine (Schaumwein) in Austria, using the French Champenoise-method with Austrian grapes.
Following World War I and Peace Treaty of Saint-Germain (France), Schlumberger was not allowed to use the French-term Champagne for its sparklings, hence the "Sekt" brand was born and used since then.
Last but not least, Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1903, in a letter from Tirol (Austria) to his daughter in 1894 mentioned: "We drank Vöslauer Schaumwein [Schlumberger], and maybe it was time, place and mood that made a difference, but the best Champagne does not suit me like this one".
So let's explore more about Schlumberger Sekt and its sparkling wine portfolio!
Winery history
Robert Alwin Schlumberger was born in Stuttgart, and, after completing his commercial apprenticeship, moved to Champagne in France, where he learnt the trade of cellar master at the oldest champagne cellar, Ruinart Pére et Fils. Schlumberger was talented and quickly got up to the position of production manager.
After a few years in France, love finally brought him to Austria, where in 1842 he founded the Schlumberger company and rented vineyards in Vöslau, a small Lower Austrian location close to Vienna (in the current Thermenregion wine-growing area).
As early as 1845, "Schlumberger Champagne", as it was called at the time, received numerous awards and quickly became the favorite drink of Viennese society. Throughout his life, Schlumberger was a visionary leader and pioneer. He recognized the importance of a strong brand early on. It is therefore no coincidence that the first registered wine brand in the Austrian trade mark register dates back to 1859 (Vöslauer Goldeck). The Vöslauer sparkling wine was produced from red Blauer Portugieser grapes growing in the Goldeck vineyards in Vöslau.
Finally, in 1878, one year before his death, Schlumberger was elevated to hereditary nobility in recognition of his life's work and was awarded the title "Noble of Goldeck".
For a period of 41 years, Schlumberger formed part of the Underberg Group, a family owned business from Germany. In 2014, the Underberg Group sold its majority shareholding in Schlumberger Aktiengesellschaft (AG) to the Swiss holding company Sastre SA to become part of the portfolio owned by industrialist Dr. Frederik Paulsen. The new majority shareholder is committed to the Austrian tradition and the deep-rootedness of Schlumberger AG in Austria.
For over 180 years, the Schlumberger Sekt brand has stood for the highest quality and tradition in sparkling wine production. As the oldest and best-known sparkling wine producer in Austria, Schlumberger still produces every single bottle according to the Méthode Traditionnelle, paying attention to the greatest possible domestic added value (production in Austria), regionality (processing exclusively Austrian grapes) and a sustainable approach (short transport routes).
Schlumberger nowadays
Schlumberger Sekt has played a leading role in organizing initiatives such as the Austrian Sparkling Wine Day and the founding of an Austrian Sparkling Wine Committee. By constantly coming up with new ideas to raise awareness of sparkling wine, the company is shaping Austrian sparkling wine culture.
What are the Schlumberger main characteristics?
Firstly, the grapes. Long-standing partnerships with over 350 winegrowing families form the basis for the consistently high quality of Schlumberger sparkling wines. The carefully selected grapes come 100 % from Austria - primarily from the Lower Austrian Weinviertel (Poysdorf and Retz regions) and from northern Burgenland (Seewinkel/Andau region). In addition to the local parade grape variety Grüner Veltliner, Schlumberger mainly uses the grape varieties Welschriesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.
All production processes are subject to strict quality criteria and controls - from the work in the vineyard to the packaging. After the harvest, the grapes are transported to their place of origin in Bad Vöslau, where they are processed into sparkling base wines and stored. Wines from different winegrowers, vintages and grape varieties are blended there to create fine cuvées. The cellar master, Herbert Jagersberger, together with his team of oenologists, closely monitors the progress in the vineyards and during harvest season.
Secondly, Schlumberger wines are produced by Methode Traditionelle only, which is considered to be superior to other sparkling methods - the carbon dioxide is more finely bubbled and better integrated due to the generally longer storage time in smaller containers, as the wine remains in the same bottle from start to finish.
At Schlumberger, the varieties in the Classic range mature between 12 and 15 months, while the specialties in the Reserve range mature for at least 18 months. For the Grand Reserve, a maturation period of at least 30 months on the lees is even prescribed.
All production steps to date have largely taken place at the founding site in Bad Vöslau and, more recently, at the Heiligenstadt winery. Here take place all the production operations, such as fermentation, maturation, riddling, disgorging, dosage, corking and storage.
The Austrian three-tier quality pyramid
The Austrian sparkling wine quality pyramid was created to clearly present the various categories of sparkling wine of protected origin to consumers. In the legal provisions of its top category, it is measured against the highest standards of the world's leading sparkling wines - such as Champagne or Franciacorta - and in some respects even exceeds them. If sparkling wine producers use the designation "Sekt Austria mit geschützter Ursprungsbezeichnung (Sekt Austria g.U.)" in the categories "Sekt Austria", "Sekt Austria RESERVE" or "Sekt Austria GROSSE RESERVE" on their labels, compliance with the respective quality parameters is legally binding. The Federal Office for Viticulture and the Federal Winery Inspectorate check compliance.
Wine tasting
In line with the quality pyramid for Austrian sparkling wine, Schlumberger has divided its sparkling wines into three categories. After our wine tasting, we emphasize the following characteristics for Classic and Reserve ranges.
You can never go wrong with the tried and tested Schlumberger Sparkling Brut, Rosé and Grüner Veltliner varieties.
Schlumberger Sparkling Brut: A blend from selected Welschriesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc grapes; on the nose, full of fruits, mainly apple and peach; on the palate, velvety flavors of spices, minerality and fruits, with an elegant and long aftertaste.
Schlumberger Sparkling Rosé: A blend from Pinot Noir, Zweigelt and St. Laurent; on the nose, excellent aromas currants and strawberries; on the palate, complex taste of fruits, with a pleasant aftertaste.
Schlumberger Sparkling Grüner Veltliner: A single varietal, an elegant and fresh sparkling wine, full of bubbles, lasting in the mouth; on the nose, notes of pear, apricot and green apple; on the palate, very fresh and mineral taste, high acidity. Strong and pleasant aftertaste.
The Schlumberger Reserve line was developed exclusively for the catering trade. The three varieties Chardonnay Brut Reserve, Pinot Noir Brut Reserve and Prestige Cuvée Brut Reserve enrich the domestic sparkling wine market.
Schlumberger Sparkling Chardonnay Reserve: A brilliant varietal, elegant and strong character sparkling, with maturation at least 18 months; on the nose, a great "bouquet" of flowers, apple and citrus, inviting for tasting; on the palate, light body, strong aromas of herbs, yellow apple, apricot. Long and bright aftertaste with notes of minerality and honey.
Instead of conclusion
Schlumberger Sekt is the "parent" of the Austrian Sekt, the driver, trend- and quality-setter for Austrian sparkling wine industry. Numerous awards at Berlin Wine Trophy, the Decanter World Wine Awards and Decanter Asia Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge are the recognition of the company's efforts to promote high quality, values and best of Austrian terroirs in terms of sparklings.
The high quality standards are reflected in all stages of Schlumberger wine production - from the care of the grapes in the vineyard to the finished labelled bottle. The use of Austrian grapes, the expertise of the Schlumberger cellar masters and regular quality controls are a guarantee of premium sparkling wines from Schlumberger Sekt.
Sparkle up your Christmas with a sparkling wine from Schlumberger Wein- und Sektkellerei GmbH!