Kohl Mountain Apple Juice Rubinette. Single-varietal apple juice from the Ritten – full-bodied, elegant, with notes of date, quince, and apricot.

Kohl Mountain Apple Juice Rubinette is an unfiltered, direct-pressed juice made from 100% Rubinette apples. Thomas Kohl presses it on his farm in Unterinn on the Ritten, South Tyrol. The 750 ml bottle contains pure apple juice with no added sugar.

Rubinette Mountain Apple Juice by Kohl solves a small problem many people know from the cheese board. Wine is often poured with goat cheese, but not everyone at the table drinks alcohol. A standard apple juice often seems too thin or too sweet in comparison. The Rubinette brings more body to the table. According to the producer, it is a cross between Golden Delicious and Cox Orange; it is small to medium-sized, yellowish-green, and blushed on the sunny side. Its flesh is firm, crisp, and very juicy. As a single-varietal juice, it displays an aromatic spectrum that is more reminiscent of dried fruit than fresh apple. Kohl features it in his GOURMET line, where each bottle contains only one type of apple.

Taste

The Rubinette tastes elegant and full-bodied, robust and harmonious, with a long finish. Even its color is special: a bright straw yellow with undertones of rosé and apricot.

On the nose, according to the producer, it displays an intense bouquet of dried fruits. Dates, quinces, and apricots are present, along with a subtle note of vanilla. On the palate, the juice feels full and round, with enough acidity to remain fresh. The finish is long-lasting. Those expecting a light, sparkling juice for thirst will find this one rather heavy. Those looking for depth in the glass get an apple juice with the character of a dessert wine, just entirely without alcohol.

Usage

Serve the Rubinette at 8 to 10 °C in a stemmed glass. Thomas Kohl recommends it with fine goat cheese as well as light and savory vegetable and meat dishes. With goat cheese, the richness of the juice picks up the creamy acidity of the cheese. Try it with fresh goat cheese with figs or with warm goat cheese on a salad. For vegetables, roasted pumpkin with rosemary, braised carrots with cumin, or a vegetable curry are suitable pairings. For meat, pork roast with crispy skin or duck breast with quince compote work well.

Store an opened bottle in the refrigerator and, according to the producer, consume it within six days. Store unopened bottles in a cool, dark place.

Our tip: Place a few slices of goat cheese log with a little honey under the grill for two minutes and serve on lamb's lettuce. Pair with the Rubinette, chilled in a stemmed glass.

Origin

Thomas Kohl follows a guiding principle that becomes particularly clear with this variety: treating apples as well as wine. He draws the comparison to viticulture himself, as he believes many things are similar between grapes and apples. Variety, location, and ripeness determine what ends up in the glass. That is why he presses his gourmet juices from a single variety at a time, just as a winemaker vinifies their grape varieties separately.

The trees stand at almost 1,000 meters above sea level on the Ritten above Bolzano. Plenty of sun during the day and cool mountain air in the evening allow the apples to grow slowly. They are picked individually by hand and only when fully ripe. At the farm, the apples are pressed just a few hours after harvest; the juice is then gently pasteurized and bottled.

For whom

The Kohl Mountain Apple Juice Rubinette is for everyone looking for a full-bodied glass to accompany cheese and autumn cuisine. It pairs well with cheese boards, Sunday roasts, and dinners with guests who do not consume alcohol. According to the producer, the juice does not contain any of the 14 main allergens and carries the V-Label of the European Vegetarian Union. With fruit pulp and velvety apricot, the Apple Juice with Apricot is another option. You can find all varieties on our page for Kohl Mountain Apple Juice. The Rubinette is not suitable as a light thirst-quencher for in between.

One variety, 750 ml of unfiltered mountain apple juice from the Ritten – full-bodied, with notes of date and quince, and made for goat cheese.