A Toast to Australia’s Sparkling Gems
It has often been said that Australian sparkling whites offer much better value than those from Champagne, and that might often be true, but if a sparkling blush is your preferred style of fizz, then cool climate Aussie wines are almost certainly in your wheelhouse!
It’s the time of year to enjoy sparkling wines; with Christmas functions, end of year celebrations, New Year’s Eve parties and events to mark the start of a new calendar year. The months of December and January are usually the most social months of my year! While Champagne is the go-to drop for many festivities, it’s undeniably expensive. And the pink versions of French fizz are usually even more expensive than the white versions from the same houses, and to my palate, they usually lack the complexity and fruit that makes sparkling wines a perfect aperitif. Perhaps it’s the very strict rules that are imposed on Champagne Houses that limit innovation and restrict winemakers from being adventurous?
One of the real advantages that Australian winemakers have over the French is modern technology. The inflexible strictures that dictate how Champagne is to be made requires traditional pressing of the fruit. This can be harsh and leaves some of the pink Champagnes having a slight astringency, something that Australian winemakers avoid by using contemporary equipment that is gentler on the fruit.
There are plenty of great blush sparkling wines made in wine regions across the country. Some of my favourites include Bird in Hand’s Sparkling ($25) that has only the slightest hint of colour, and the Georg Jensen Hallmark Sparkling rosé ($70). They are quite different styles – one effusive and engaging, the other more elegant and stylish – but both palate pleasing and somewhat “moreish”!
But if you’re a disciple to the style and love to find value, you can’t go past the Howard Park Jete Rose NV ($45). Made from a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes from the Great Southern region in Western Australia, it’s a pale salmon colour in the grass and has plenty going on. Brioche and Granny Smith apple on the nose, followed by citrus and lemon curd across the palate. Rich, complex and illuminated by a fine bead. A fizz for all occasions!
For those who like to taste a bit of fruit with their bubbles, a sparkling rosé will fill the bill, and the Australian versions of the style have plenty to offer and are arguably much better value than their more highly priced French cousins!
Photo: Sergei Tokarev, Unsplash