PARTY POPPERS
Gourmet Traveller|November 2021
Add a little sparkle to any celebration with a lively glass of fizz. Sommelier SAMANTHA PAYNE guides us through her picks for the festive season.
SAMANTHA PAYNE
PARTY POPPERS

Bubbles. Fizz. ‘Champers’. No matter what you call it, sparkling wine can’t help but evoke a sense of excitement in people as they hear the gentle hiss of a bottle being opened. With a resurgence of the traditional ways of making sparkling, there’s never been a more exciting time to enter into the world of fizz, from classic French styles to lively left-of-centre drops.

SPARKLING WINE

1 2006 Arras ‘E.J. Carr’ Late Disgorged, Tasmania, $200 This is the ninth consecutive release of this extraordinary wine, named after the “Godfather” of sparkling wine in Australia, Ed Carr. It seems almost impossible that a 15-year-old sparkling wine could be fresh and vibrant, but that is the magic of this Tasmanian bottle from what is easily Australia’s best house of sparkling. houseofarras.com.au

2 NV Jo Landron Brut ‘Atmosphères’ Muscadet, France, $51 A blend of 75 per cent folle blanche and pinot noir grapes from vineyards that are up to 30-years-old, and made in the traditional Champagne method, this sparkling wine is consistently delicious year after year. Its fragrant floral nose and bright citrus notes would pair wonderfully with a combination of summertime salads. differentdrop.com

3 2021 Usher Tinkler ‘La Volpe’ Prosecco, Hunter Valley, NSW, $35 Sometimes you need a sparkling wine filled with tropical fruit notes alongside a lively bubble that’s perfect for cheese and salumi grazing boards. This high quality, reasonably priced prosecco comes from the effortlessly cool Usher Tinkler – buy a dozen and have it ready for any occasion. ushertinklerwines.com

This story is from the November 2021 edition of Gourmet Traveller.

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This story is from the November 2021 edition of Gourmet Traveller.

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