At Crackers, our wine list is made for dinner, for long evenings, for “just one glass” becoming a bottle, and for anyone who likes asking the best question at the table: what should we drink with this?
Jan Wienecke, our head sommelier, has put together a few favourites for the season: fresh German sparkling wines, bright Rieslings, crisp Aligoté, Chenin with depth, and reds that know how to behave in warm weather. Dry, mineral, lively, sometimes a little wild, but never too serious.
Start with bubbles: Warm evenings call for something cold, dry and very alive in the glass.
The 2022 Lena Singer-Fischer Blanc de Blancs from Rheinhessen is a very good place to start. Made from Chardonnay and Weißburgunder, it is fresh, dry and beautifully slim, with only a tiny dosage. Think fine bubbles, clarity from the Chardonnay, a little roundness from the Weißburgunder, and exactly the kind of aperitif that works before dinner, on the terrace, or whenever someone says, “shall we start with something sparkling?”
For those who like their bubbles even more direct, the 2017 Rings Calcaire Blanc de Blancs from the Pfalz brings Chardonnay, zero dosage and a very clean, mineral line. It is dry, straight and refreshing, but the long time on the lees gives it a little creaminess and depth. Serious enough for Champagne lovers, relaxed enough for Crackers.
There is also the 2021 Griesel Tradition Blanc de Blancs from the Hessische Bergstraße: bright, lively and charming, with Chardonnay and Weißburgunder bringing freshness, fruit and just enough creaminess to make it feel generous without getting heavy.
Basically: yes, start with Sekt. Germany is very good at this.
Whites for warm weather
Summer whites need energy. They should be fresh, but not thin. Easy to drink, but not boring. The kind of wine that keeps the table moving.
The 2023 Katharina Wechsler Benn Riesling from Rheinhessen does exactly that. Riesling is almost always a good idea in summer: juicy, bright, full of movement and with the kind of acidity that makes you want another sip. This one comes from old vines in the Benn monopole site, but it doesn’t feel complicated. It feels alive.
From Burgundy, the 2023 Bouzeron La Chaume des Lies brings Aligoté in a very summer-friendly mood: green apple, lime, grapefruit and a crisp, citrusy bite. It has a little natural wine character too, so expect something slightly more vivid, a bit more wild, but still refreshing and easy to love.
And then there is 2023 La Lune by La Ferme de la Sansonnière from the Loire. Chenin Blanc, but not as a simple terrace wine. More of a quiet, special bottle for warm evenings. Freshness, fruit, depth, a little roundness from time in wood, and that Loire energy that feels calm but never flat.
What to drink with your favourite dishes?
The best thing about a good wine list is that it knows how to move with the menu.
Our current spring and summer dishes have plenty to play with: Beelitz asparagus with tarragon, peas and Panko, ricotta gnocchi with wild garlic, fjord trout with caviar, chives and butter, Prignitz corn chicken with sage and green asparagus, and, of course, Crackers cheesecake with almond, strawberry and poppy.
Asparagus likes freshness and precision. Butter likes bubbles. Fish likes mineral whites. Chicken can go white, orange or light red depending on the mood. Cheesecake has its own opinions, and we respect them.
The point is: you don’t need to know the perfect pairing. That is what our team is here for.
Tell us what you’re eating. Tell us what you usually drink. Tell us if you want something crisp, elegant, juicy, a little wild, very classic, or completely unexpected. We will take it from there.
We fully support this behaviour.
Reds that work in summer
Red wine does not need to disappear when the weather gets warm. It just needs to loosen up a bit.
The 2024 Odinstal Herxheimer Honigsack 1G Spätburgunder from the Pfalz is exactly the kind of red that works beautifully slightly chilled. Red cherry, raspberry, fine floral notes, silky tannins and enough freshness to keep it light on its feet. Charming, elegant and very ready for a warm evening.
For something with a little more structure but still no heaviness, the 2019 Le Puy “Émilien” from Bordeaux is a strong move. Merlot brings roundness, while Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carménère and Malbec add spice and shape. It is Bordeaux, but not the heavy, old-school kind. More balanced, elegant and handmade in feeling — the kind of red you can actually drink with dinner in summer.
Ask us what to open
Ask us what to drink with asparagus. Ask us what to open with fish. Ask us for a red that can be served slightly chilled. Ask us for German bubbles instead of Champagne. Ask us for something classic, something weird, something easy, something special.
We like that question. We love to talk about it.
Come for dinner, start with a glass, stay for the bottle, and let the sommelier team do what they do best.
Book your table at Crackers Berlin and discover what we’re drinking this season.
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Interested in another venue? Check out COOKIES CREAM for a vegetarian fine dining experience.