The best Australian sparkling wines
Australian sparkling wine is not just for celebrating, it's worth celebrating. Below are 10 of Australia's best sparkling wines, as determined by the Halliday Tasting Team. Featured in the Top 100 Australian sparkling list are producers from the Adelaide Hills, the Yarra Valley, King Valley, NSW's Orange and, of course, Tasmania.
The top 10 includes a selection of blanc de blancs, the best sparkling shiraz, a sparkling rosé made from nebbiolo, and some of the King Valley's best prosecco.
From Tassie, Dave Brookes puts forward Bellebonne's 2017 Blanc de Blancs, the 2008 House of Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged, and Freycinet Vineyard's 2016 Radenti Grand Vintage. Philip Rich highlights Oakridge Wines' 2017 Blanc de Blancs, along with Chandon's 2018 Terroir Yarra Valley Single Vineyard Cuvée.
Spanning $25 to $266, there's a fizz to suit every occasion.
2017 Ashton Hills Vineyard Sparkling Shiraz, Adelaide Hills
This comes with a beautiful, almost lurid garnet colour. Defying its 14 per cent alcohol on label, this is a sparkling shiraz of immense energy and freshness, despite the layers of red and black berry fruit, genial Christmas pudding dried fruits, nuts and sweet spice, faint licorice elements and woody spice of cinnamon and clove. It feels surprisingly but delightfully precise, invigorating with its course of fine, brisk bubbles, and generally lively and refreshing. A sense of precision and finesse here too. Wonderful version of this style. – Mike Bennie
94 points | $60 | Diam | 14% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Halliday profile | Ashton Hills | @ashtonhillsvineyard
2017 Bellebonne Blanc de Blancs, Tasmania
2017 was a wonderful vintage. 100 per cent Pipers River fruit picked at 10.5 baume from three rows of chardonnay; four barrels and lees stirring. Light straw with a superfine bead and rich aromas of citrus, apple and grapefruit with tones of shortbread, brioche, light mushroom broth, sea spray, oyster shell, soft spice, clotted cream, creamed manuka honey, stone and clover blossom. Power and expansive, yet restrained and graceful. Dry, complex and so long on the finish. Dosage 5g/L and a mere 92 dozen produced. – Dave Brookes
97 points | $130 | Diam | 11.5% alc. | Drink to 2043 | Halliday profile | Bellebonne | @bellebonnetas
2018 Chandon Australia Terroir Single Vineyard Cuvée, Yarra Valley
78/13/9 per cent pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier, including grapes from the first Chandon vines planted over 30 years ago. A lively, bright green gold. In a very nice place right now with its aromas of strawberries, pear, baked apples and a touch of chalk. The mousse is fine and persistent and there's real substance and on the energetic and long palate. A class act from start to finish. – Philip Rich
97 points | $68 | Cork | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2028 | Halliday profile | Chandon Australia | @chandonaus
2017 Dal Zotto Wines La Nebbia Col Fondo Nebbiolo, King Valley
Employing the nebbiolo grape in a col-fondo-style sparkling makes for a stunning, exciting wine. Love the delicacy, the fineness, the mix of savoury and sunny notes that bring incredible energy to the glass. Copper-pink rosé hues introduce bright florals, musk, rose petal, cherry, dusty earth scents with anise/red licorice spice. Explores additional savoury citrus flavours – blood orange, tangerine – with cranberry and gentle spice to taste. No pushover; there's plenty of nebbiolo attitude here. Wow! – Jeni Port
95 points | $40 | Crown | 11.8% alc. | Drink now | Halliday profile | Dal Zotto | @dalzotto.wines
2019 DAOSA Blanc de Blancs, Adelaide Hills
Aged on lees in barrel for the first fermentation, the second in bottle and on lees for 44 months. The result is a very savoury and complex sparkling wine. Quite rich and toasty, lots of sea spray and almond/hazelnut characters with green apple, grapefruit and lemon curd in tow. There are vigorous bubbles, a steely rod of briny acidity through the palate, almost a stickiness to texture and a lingering, saline finish. Layers and layers here, potent with great presence and poise, even with the inherent richness. Fabulous, as a byword. – Mike Bennie
95 points | $90 | Diam | 12.9% alc. | Drink to 2035 | Halliday profile | DAOSA and Terre à Terre | @daosa_sparkling
2016 Freycinet Vineyard Radenti Grand Vintage, Tasmania
60/40 per cent chardonnay/pinot noir; five years and nine months on lees, disgorged Dec 2022. Pale straw with a fine, energetic bead. Such a lovely smelling wine. White peach, apple and citrus tones. Hints of dried honey, white flowers, almond meal, lemon zest, clotted cream, sea spray and crushed stone. Lemon shortbread notes on the palate, which shows grilled nuts and toast, a touch of distant marzipan, chalky, fine acidity and a long creamy finish showing great harmony and length of flavour. – Dave Brookes
96 points | $75 | Agglomerate | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2035 | Halliday profile | Freycinet Vineyard | @freycinetvineyard
2008 House of Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged, Tasmania
The much awaited 2008 E.J. Carr Late Disgorged is a blend of 64.4/35.6 per cent chardonnay/pinot noir sourced from premium vineyards across Tasmania. Aged on lees in tirage for 13 years with a 2.2 g/L dosage. Disgorged December 2022. Mid-straw in the glass with an ultra-fine bead and aromas of green apple, juicy nectarine and white peach with hints of crushed oyster shell, white flowers, grapefruit pith, sea spray, shiitake broth and straight out of the oven brioche. Coils then expands on the palate, all tension and release as the minerally acidity propels the wine across the tongue. Pristine flavours of stone fruits, soft spice, clotted cream and biscuity/toasty tones abound, finishing bright and intensely focused with real intent of flavour and line. A benchmark Australian sparkling wine. – Dave Brookes
98 points | $266 | Agglomerate | 13% alc. | Drink to 2035 | Halliday profile | House of Arras | @houseofarras
2017 Oakridge Wines Blanc de Blancs, Yarra Valley
Just over five years on lees before being disgorged in October '22, with 7.5g/L dosage. The product of a cool year, and it shows, in a good way. A very good way. Aromas of freshly baked sourdough, Meyer lemons, pear and apples. Fresh, crisp, complex and long. The dosage nigh on perfect. A perfectly constructed Yarra sparkling wine. – Philip Rich
97 points | $65 | Diam | 12.5% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Halliday profile | Oakridge Wines | @oakridgewines
2015 Printhie Wines Swift Vintage Brut, Orange
65/35 per cent chardonnay/pinot noir. No mlf, eight years on lees, 3g/L dosage and disgorged October 2023. Ripe lemon skin, golden apple, lanolin, lemon myrtle and dried paper bark. Shattered oyster shell, dry sand and chalk powder. Roasted pine nut, candlenut and brie cheese skin. Undulating pools of acidity followed by blush cherries, yuzu and pineapple. The palate feels endless and fruit weight is significant, it's carried by engaged acid and the perfectly tailored dosage. A wonder of a wine. – Shanteh Wale
97 points | $72 | Agglomerate | 12% alc. | Drink to 2030 | Halliday profile | Printhie Wines | @printhiewines
NV Risky Business Wines Prosecco, King Valley
Picture-perfect non-vintage prosecco that amplifies the best of its many sparkling qualities. From the cut apple, quince and pear aromas to the energy that flows on the palate courtesy of the lively lemon-ness of it all – lemon sorbet, zest, lemon fruit tingle – this is top summer drinking. Zippy, clean acidity accentuates and enlivens. – Jeni Port
95 points | $25 | Crown | 10% alc. | Drink to 2023 | Halliday profile | Risky Business Wines | @riskybusinesswines
Shop the Top 100 Wines with Sense of Taste
Taste the Top 100 events
Tickets are now on sale for the Top 100 tasting events. Be among the first to taste the Top 100 Wines 2024. Secure your tickets below.Taste the Top 100: Melbourne
Thursday October 31, 2024
Panama Dining Room, Fitzroy
Book here
Taste the Top 100: Sydney
Wednesday November 6, 2024
Doltone House, Sydney
Book here
