Kessler was founded in 1826 by Georg Christian von Kessler, a German who had worked at Champagne Veuve Clicquot in France and brought the traditional method of sparkling wine production back to Württemberg. The company has been making Sekt in Esslingen ever since, using the same brick-vaulted cellars beneath the old town.
Guided cellar tours run on weekends and can be booked in advance; they include a tasting of several different Kessler styles. The shop sells the full range, from dry Sekt to sweeter styles. Even without a tour, it is worth calling in to pick up a bottle and see the historic entrance hall — the building itself is listed and the interior preserves much of its 19th-century character. Esslingen's reputation for sparkling wine is still alive: several other producers in the town and surrounding vineyards continue the tradition.