House of Arras Tasmania Grand Vintage 2013

Region and Vineyards

Tasmania stands as Australia's premier cool-climate region for traditional method sparkling wine, offering exceptional conditions due to its latitude, maritime climate, and ancient soils. The House of Arras sources fruit from seven sub-regions, including Pipers River, Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley, and the East Coast, each contributing unique elements to the final blend.

These vineyard sites benefit from long, slow growing seasons, enabling precise acid and sugar balance—essential for crafting age-worthy sparkling wines. Vines selected for the Grand Vintage have an average age of over ten years and are meticulously managed using vertical shoot positioning. All fruit is hand-harvested, ensuring the highest quality selection for vinification.

Winemaking

The 2013 Grand Vintage is produced using the traditional method (méthode traditionnelle), beginning with gentle pressing of hand-picked grapes and meticulous selection of the finest juice fractions. The blend, a cuvée of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, includes 10% fermentation in first-use French oak barriques, contributing textural and aromatic depth.

A key hallmark of the House of Arras is extended tirage—this vintage was matured on lees for seven years, yielding a complex, layered profile. A full malolactic fermentation was employed to soften acidity and enhance mouthfeel. The wine was disgorged after ageing and released with minimal dosage to preserve purity and drive.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Sparkling bright yellow-gold with a fine, persistent bead.
• Aroma: Intensely aromatic with lemon essence, lychee, oyster shell, and subtle florals.
• Palate: Layers of toasted sourdough, roasted almond, lemon curd, and wild mushroom. The structure is taut and poised, framed by crisp natural acidity and fine tannins. The long lees ageing brings a creamy complexity reminiscent of top Champagne cuvées.

Did you know?

Ed Carr, House of Arras's founding winemaker, was awarded "Sparkling Winemaker of the Year" at the International Wine Challenge in 2024, recognising his groundbreaking work elevating Tasmanian sparkling wine to international prestige. He pioneered the philosophy of extensive lees ageing in Australia, often maturing cuvées far beyond commercial norms to develop unrivalled complexity.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Oysters with lemon and seaweed butter - Accentuates the saline and citrus notes of the wine.
• Lobster thermidor - Complements the wine's creamy texture and layered brioche notes.
• Roast chicken with mushroom stuffing - Echoes the earthy and umami elements found in the wine's palate.
• Comté or aged Gruyère - Harmonises with the nutty, toasty complexity of extended lees-aged sparkling.

History of House of Arras

The story of House of Arras began in 1995, when Ed Carr, already one of Australia’s most accomplished sparkling winemakers, envisioned creating a truly exceptional Australian sparkling wine. Rather than mimic Champagne, his goal was to express the unique character of Australia's coolest climate—Tasmania.

Ed Carr’s conviction led him to focus solely on Tasmania, long before its potential for sparkling wine was widely recognised. In 1998, the brand released its first cuvée, and since then, House of Arras has risen to become the benchmark for Australian sparkling wine, garnering acclaim both domestically and internationally.

Carr’s meticulous approach, particularly his commitment to extended tirage ageing—often six to ten years—has been pivotal in shaping the House of Arras style: elegant, complex, and age-worthy. In 2024, he was awarded “Sparkling Winemaker of the Year” at the International Wine Challenge, solidifying his reputation as a global master of the craft.

Region and Vineyards

Tasmania’s cold maritime climate, ancient soils, and long growing season create ideal conditions for traditional method sparkling wine. House of Arras sources fruit from seven cool-climate sub-regions across the island: Tamar Valley, Pipers River, Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley, Huon Valley, East Coast, and Devonport.

Each site contributes distinctive nuances—altitude, aspect, and microclimate variations give Ed Carr a diverse palette for blending. All vineyards are managed to exacting standards, with hand-harvested fruit and vertical shoot positioning, ensuring pristine quality for base wines.

Wine Range of House of Arras

House of Arras produces a distinguished range of méthode traditionnelle wines, united by long lees aging and stylistic precision:

• Grand Vintage – A flagship cuvée aged 6–7 years on lees; rich and layered, yet mineral and poised.
• Vintage Rosé – Pinot Noir-led with exceptional finesse, floral complexity and structure.
• Brut Elite – A multi-vintage blend aged for four years; expressive and accessible, with hallmark depth.
• Blanc de Blancs – 100% Chardonnay, citrus-driven and chalky, revealing finesse and vibrancy.
• A by Arras – An earlier-drinking style, aged 30 months, offering freshness and approachability while retaining quality.

Each wine reflects Carr’s uncompromising standards and the expressive power of Tasmanian fruit, making House of Arras one of the few non-European sparkling houses truly revered for its terroir expression and ageing pedigree.

Did you know?

House of Arras holds more trophies and medals for sparkling wine than any other Australian producer. In fact, many of its cuvées are aged longer than most vintage Champagnes, a rarity in the Southern Hemisphere and a mark of Ed Carr’s relentless pursuit of excellence.