"Sparkling is the perfect drink for any occasion," says Eden Walpole, winemaker at Blue Pyrenees Estate. We couldn't agree more.
Perhaps moreso than any other style, sparkling wine is incredibly versatile. It comes in a range of different colours and styles, depending on the grape variety used, the sugar level (dry, semi-dry or sweet), winemaking techniques, whether it's vintage or non-vintage and more. Sparkling whites, for example, are known for citrus, toast, floral and nutty characteristics, whereas sparkling reds tend to elicit flavours in the red and black-fruited spectrum – sweet plum, cherry, prunes and the like.
In Australia, sparkling wine production thrives in cooler-climate regions, especially where sparkling's most commonly used base grapes – chardonnay and pinot noir – can be found. As such, Tasmania and the Yarra Valley are the obvious picks, with the Grampians, Adelaide Hills, King Valley and Pyrenees following suit.
We spoke to three sparkling producers about why they love Aussie sparkling, and each put forward a wine for you to try, either in the coming months or to cellar and enjoy in years to come. Blue Pyrenees Estate's 2022 Midnight Cuvée, just $35, pairs well with mineral-driven foods like scallops. Also $35, Josef Chromy's NV Tasmanian Cuvée is perfect as an aperitif or with light salads and creamy pasta. And finally, at $78, Pt. Leo Estate's 2019 Méthode Traditionnelle is the perfect sparkling for celebrations, or enjoying with freshly shucked oysters.
Cheers to Aussie sparkling!
2022 Blue Pyrenees Midnight Cuvée
Brilliant pale straw with a fine bead of persistent, gentle bubbles. The aroma is delicate and complex with characteristics of cracked yeast, freshly baked apple strudel and lime. A fine mousse in the mouth with lemon sherbet and apple notes on the front palate, followed by a fresh, creamy mid-palate, zippy acidity and crisp finish. Plenty of length and beautifully balanced.Senior winemaker Eden Walpole says: I love the time, effort and patience required to craft traditional method sparkling wines, particularly vintage cuvées. The foresight to take base wines and assemble blends with clear intent and focus in mind is a skill developed over many years. Mature chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier vines from our estate give us the building blocks and versatility to produce refined and complex sparkling wines. Our Midnight Cuvée sits at the top of this tree.
H. How do you approach the winemaking process?
EW. For me, length, poise and persistence are words often used when assembling cuvées on the blending bench. Our estate vineyards provide us with the versatility year on year to craft both consistent and unique vintage and non-vintage cuvées. We go into each vintage with a fair idea of where things might end up, but it’s not until we look at everything after vintage that we start putting the puzzle together.
Best enjoyed: Midnight Cuvée is a great foil for salty, mineral-driven foods like fresh oysters or smoked scallops. Best served well chilled, in other words straight out of the fridge. We’ll often drink sparkling wine out of a slightly wider white wine glass, allowing for a fully expressive nose and palate while also maximising bead retention.
RRP $35 | Drink to 2027 | bluepyrenees.com.au | Shop this wine
NV Josef Chromy Tasmanian Cuvée
Pale straw with a lively, fine bead. Aromas of crisp Granny Smith apple and citrus. A lively palate of crunchy green apple and lemon with hints of toasted biscuit add richness and complexity.Winemaker Yael Sandler says: When crafting sparkling wine I love seeing the evolution of the base wine, the changes that occur during secondary fermentation with time in bottle, and then the finishing point at liqueuring. All of these factors play a role in the final style but are firmly underpinned by the power and intensity of the fruit, which is where it all begins.
This wine is crafted from premium chardonnay and pinot noir, with the region's cool climate preserving acidity and enhancing flavour. Made using the traditional method, it offers complexity, depth and excellent ageing potential, making it versatile for pairing with a wide range of cuisines.
H. How do you approach the winemaking process?
YS. The process of making sparkling wine is very much a long game. It requires patience and attention to detail at each step of the process from vineyard to bottle. The key things I seek are balance and refined elegance. This drives all the decisions I make in the vineyard and throughout the winemaking process.
Best enjoyed: Chill to 6–8°C to enhance this wine's refreshing qualities. Perfect for celebrations or as an aperitif, it pairs well with seafood, light salads, poultry, creamy pasta, and soft cheeses. Best enjoyed with great company.
RRP $35 | Drink now | josefchromy.com.au | Shop this wine
2019 Pt. Leo Estate Méthode Traditionnelle
Very pale straw colour with faintest hint of green. Fresh and vibrant nose, with floral and citrus aromas and even a nice touch of brioche – impressive for a recently disgorged wine. The palate is bright and fresh with a clean, crisp acid finish.Winemaker Tod Dexter says: This wine is made from 100 per cent estate-grown fruit on an exposed site very close to Western Port Bay. The site itself is the most unique aspect of the wine. Being exposed to Bass Strait, it is windy and cool, allowing a balance of fruit flavour and acidity. It is one of the very few sparkling wines made on the Peninsula and it is made from a selection of clones: pinot noir 777, 114 and 115 and chardonnay 95.
It is harvested early to control flavour development while retaining freshness and acidity. It is made for sitting out on deck at Pt Leo facing the bay in the evening. It was recently awarded a gold medal and scored 95 points at the 2024 Mornington Peninsula Wine Show.
H. How do you approach the winemaking process?
TD. Harvest timing is critical and a real focus for the team. We are aiming to make the wine as fine as we can but also avoid green or unripe flavours. The fruit is also carefully managed in the winery to minimise phenolics with juice clarification and cool primary fermentation in tank. After tirage, this wine spent almost five years on lees before it was disgorged earlier this year.
Best enjoyed: This crisp, fresh sparkling is ideal as an aperitif but also goes perfectly with freshly shucked oysters.
RRP $78 | Drink to 2027 | ptleoestate.com.au | Shop this wine
Top image credit: Blue Pyrenees Estate.
