van Nahmen Fruit Secco Apple Blueberry Cherry. Non-alcoholic fruit secco made from Bohnapfel, wild blueberry, and sour cherry – ruby red, dry, with fine acidity.

van Nahmen Fruit Secco Apple Blueberry Cherry is a non-alcoholic fruit secco from Hamminkeln in the Lower Rhine region. The base is made from single-varietal juice of the Rhenish Bohnapfel, combined with juice from wild-growing forest blueberries, sour cherry juice, and carbonation. 0% alcohol according to the manufacturer, 0.75 l, subtly sweet and refreshingly dry.

Fruit Secco Apple Blueberry Cherry by van Nahmen is soberly labeled as "apple-blueberry-cherry juice with added carbonation." That is exactly what it is: three fruit juices, blended and carbonated. The juice press fills it into sparkling wine bottles, and it is intended as an alternative to sparkling wine. Its sweetness comes from the fruit itself. Often at the end of a meal, a suitable glass is missing when dessert arrives and some guests abstain from wine. Water is then too little, lemonade too sweet. For this moment, van Nahmen has composed a dark, dry version of his fruit seccos.

Taste

In the glass, the secco is a deep ruby red. The nose reveals cherry and dark berries, along with a hint of almond and an earthy note reminiscent of moss. On the palate, it feels subtly sweet yet refreshingly dry. The fine perlage keeps it lively and light.

Each of the three fruits has its role. The acidity-driven Bohnapfel provides a fine, clear acidity. The forest blueberries add body and structure, making the secco denser than a pure apple secco. The sour cherry rounds it off and leads to a tart, dry-feeling finish. Those expecting a sweet berry drink will be disappointed: this fruit secco is serious rather than playful.

Usage

Chill it to 8 to 10 °C and serve in sparkling wine glasses. It makes a good impression as an aperitif, especially in the cooler season when dark colors suit the table better than a light rosé.

According to the manufacturer's tasting notes, it shows its strength with dessert, specifically with sweets of moderate sweetness. Try it with vanilla ice cream and hot cherries, a chocolate cake with little sugar, or quark with blueberries. The acidity of the sour cherry stands up to the cream, and the dark fruit picks up the berries on the plate. It is less suitable for very sweet cakes, where it quickly tastes too tart.

After opening, keep refrigerated and consume within five days.

Our tip: Put the bottle on the table for dessert, not for the main course. Alongside warm cherries on vanilla ice cream, it shows what it’s really made of.

Origin

The Rhenish Bohnapfel already carries the region in its name. It is an old, acid-driven variety, and van Nahmen presses it for this secco as a single-varietal juice. This fits the house's philosophy: since 2007, the press has focused on single-varietal juices, i.e., juice from only one type of fruit. The idea behind it is what the manufacturer calls "juice as a pleasure."

The van Nahmen family has been pressing fruit in Hamminkeln in the Lower Rhine region since 1917. Today, the company is managed by Dr. Peter van Nahmen and his wife Sabine, the fourth generation. Fruit from old meadow orchards in the Lower Rhine and Münsterland regions is preferred for the press. The manufacturer points out that there are over 200 old fruit varieties in the Lower Rhine region and aims to preserve this diversity. According to the manufacturer, the blueberries for this secco come from wild-growing forest blueberries.

For whom

For hosts who want to round off a festive meal with a non-alcoholic glass. For everyone who prefers to reach for something dark and dry when toasting. And for family celebrations where teenagers and children are also at the table, as it contains no alcohol according to the manufacturer. The sparkling wine bottle is a great gift, for instance for the autumn and Christmas season. Lighter and more berry-forward is the Fruit Secco Apple Blackcurrant Raspberry. You can find the sour cherry pure and without perlage in the Morellenfeuer Sour Cherry Juice. All juices and seccos are available at van Nahmen.

This fruit secco is not suitable for those who prefer it light, sweet, and airy – it is dark, tart, and dry.

Bohnapfel, forest blueberry, and sour cherry with a fine perlage – the dark, non-alcoholic fruit secco for aperitif and dessert.