Sekt

But when the tasting was done and it was time to relax over a meal, each producer would pop open a bottle of sekt, their dry sparkling wine made from riesling in the traditional champagne method.

Budget Sekt—usually under $15, and most of it destined for domestic consumption in Germany and Austria — is released right away, while the best Sekt spends months aging on its leftover dead yeast, called lees, which adds flavor notes of toast, nuts, and buttermilk.

Cheap Sekt — the kind you'd be comfortable mixing into a mimosa — is simple and fruity, and can be made from grapes sourced outside Germany and Austria, often international grape varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown in bulk winegrowing regions of France, Spain, or Italy.

These styles of Sekt are often made from grapes native to Germany and Austria, each with their own distinctive flavors.

When shopping for Sekt, it helps if you have a bit of German under your belt.