Or just something that sparkles and fizzes as German Sekt does will be fine.
Danke Schön
Q
Champagne? (or whatever term they are using for it after the trademarks war!)
From my memory of underage drinking in Germany, which admittedly is a little fuzzy!
Sparkling wine would be a better equivalent than Champagne, as all Chamgagne must come from the wine region of that name. In the USA they can refer to wines as being created from the Champagne method.
As far as I know, Sekt is not just from one wine growing area in Germany.
Well the German-English Dictionary from Chemnitz supports Shibb’s definition of “sparkling wine”. They even include an example called “Pikkolo” which is a miniature champagne-like bottle that contains Sekt, which is not totally a champagne (or Champagner as it is known in Germany) and not a wine either, but something inbetween.
What I’m trying to figure out is what do we have here in the States that would approximate this taste of Sekt. An Aste Spumante, perhaps, or is that too sweet?
Thanks
Q
I have no idea what Sekt is, but going on your description “not quite wine” could it be a spritzer? Like wine mixed with lemonade or bubble-water or something?
As y’all can tell, I’m a real wine connosieur, huh? 
“Aste” should be Asti! Well, what do ya expect from a guy that spent his college years sniffing the bouquet of Ripple, Thunderbird and MD2020??? 
Q
Quasi, try Korbel’s Natural (or Naturel?), it’s in a dark green or black label bottle. Probably about $10 a bottle, so not to expensive to try out. It’s a little sweeter than the Brut, but not as sweet as an Asti.
Thanks ShibbOleth! I was thinking that way, and I’m pretty sure Korbel makes a Sekt in Germany as well. I’ll try a bottle and get back with ya’. In the meantime just think of me as the Basil Fawlty of wine tasters, and you’ll have me pegged!
Also, for my Georgia friends, I know Harry’s Farmer’s Market carries Sekt, but God, they must adulterate it with horse-piss at some point, because it tastes so flat.
Disclaimer: Quasi has never tasted horse-piss, okay?
Q
Iteki: Thanks, but no that isn’t it either. We have those here in the US and they are called “Wine Coolers”, and they do have a bit of “carbonation” to them, but are not as “pure” a product as true Sekt. The taste is tough to define in words, but if you every have a chance to try it, you’ll realize right away that it has a distinctive flavor.
Thanks!
Q
Sekt is basically champagne made outside the Champagne district. Since the French have monopolized that name, as they have with Cognac, makers of sparkling wine in toher countries (and regions of France) have to use another name - Sekt in Germany, Cava in Spain. Some of these are made from the same grapes as true champagne (chardonnay, pinot noir or pinot meunier) and by the same method (fermented a second time on the bottle), others aren’t.
My take on it - You pay o lot for the name ‘champagne’ and the label on the bottle. A good sekt or cava will be almost as good for a fraction of the prize, many times.
YMMV
Bohemia Sekt is the main brand of Champagne here in the Czech Republic. Actually some of the best champagne I have ever had. Great stuff. They have Brut, Demi Sekt, Rose and another one or two types.
-Tcat