The Story A Bottle Label Can Tell

24th May 2021

Whats Behind a Label

When I first looked at the label on this bottle from Kartuzija Pleterje, I initially thought Harry Potter, it was the P in Penina that made me think this, but looking further, I saw the Globus cruciger, the orb and cross, which is a Christian symbol of authority used since the Middle Ages and under that orb,, it saysStat Crux Dum Volvitur Orbis’ which is Latin for ‘The Cross is steady while the world turns’ and that is where it found The Order of Carthusians.

The Order of Carthusians

The Order of Carthusians (Latin: Ordo Cartusiensis) is an enclosed religious order of the Roman Catholic Church which was created by Bruno of Cologne in 1084.

When it comes to where the name came from, it is linked to the location of where the first hermitage was built, the word Carthusian comes from the Chartreuse Mountains in the French Prealps, in mountains valley’s Saint Bruno built his first hermitage consisting of a few wooden cabins, a church, chapter room and communal areas, it was just Bruno and six others who helped build everything.

One of Bruno’s former pupil’s, Pope Urban II, requested Bruno’s service in Rome, he lived there for a few months, in his time there he established a new hermitage in the forests of Calabria, in southern Italy, Bruno died on the 6th of October 1101.

The Sparkling Wine – Kartuzija Pleterje

Josef Ressel lived on the premises of the Pleterje Carthusian monastery in Slovenia 200 years ago as a forester. The Sparkling Wine of Kartuzija Pleterje is produced in his honor, they use the Žametovka grape variety in this bottle, it is semi-dry which means it’s on the sweeter side and it is made using the classic method.

Kartuzija Pleterje – Resslova Penina

Aroma – “👃Pink and red floral notes with red berries on the aroma. 

Flavour – “👅A sweet fresh/ripe red berry flavour with touches of floral and herbal notes. 

This Slovenian Sparkling Wine Won a Silver Medal in the Spring Fling Category At The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2020.

The Order of Carthusians Cocktail

Ingredients

  • Rosé Sparkling Wine
  • Mirabeau Rosé Gin 
  • Strawberry
  • Redcurrants

How To Make The Order of Carthusians Cocktail

  1. Pour in 20mls of Mirabeau Rosé Gin
  2. Top up with Sparkling Wine, around 125mls
  3. Drop-in a handful of Redcurrants
  4. And add a Strawberry onto the rim of your glass.

Tasting Notes

Aroma – “A fresh, soft and creamy aroma of red currants and strawberry. I could imagine this being on a freshly baked cheesecake and these fresh berries placed on top.”

Flavour – “Sharper red berries, with hints of floral and redcurrants standing out, it’s alive in the glass with fizz.”

Oliver Walkey

Oliver Walkey

WSET 2 Journalist focused on sharing Champagne and Sparkling Wine reviews and cocktails to the world.