King Wilhelm I of Württemberg presented Kessler with the Great Agricultural Service Medal for his services in promoting the production of quality wines in the country. The new ‘champagne factory’ in Esslingen set new standards for the local industry. Instead of growing low-quality vines, such as the ‘Putzscheere’ and the ‘Heunisch’, more and more wine makers began harvesting high-quality grapes such as Riesling and Klevner, grapes that were crucial for the creation of marketable sparkling wines.