Region and Vineyards
Tasmania is Australia’s premier sparkling wine region, often compared to Champagne due to its cool maritime climate, pristine air, and unique terroir. The island’s location, influenced by the Southern Ocean, provides a long ripening season, preserving the natural acidity and finesse of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The fruit for Arras Grand Vintage is sourced from six of Tasmania’s finest vineyard regions, including Pipers River, renowned for its limestone-rich soils and slow ripening cycle. These conditions allow for the development of fine acidity, mineral purity, and vibrant fruit expression, all essential components of a world-class sparkling wine. The combination of multiple vineyard sites ensures depth, complexity, and balance, hallmarks of the Arras style.
Winemaking
Crafted using the méthode traditionnelle, the same technique used in Champagne, Arras Grand Vintage is a meticulous blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, designed for long aging and exceptional refinement.
The base wines were fermented separately to enhance their individual characteristics, followed by aging in French oak barrels, adding texture and aromatic depth. After blending, the wine underwent secondary fermentation in bottle, where it was aged on lees for over nine years, developing its signature autolytic character, fine mousse, and complex flavors. The wine was then disgorged with a minimal dosage, preserving the purity of Tasmanian fruit while achieving a harmonious balance of richness and freshness.
Tasting Notes
- Color: Pale gold with a radiant brilliance, enhanced by a persistent fine bead of delicate bubbles.
- Aromas: A highly expressive bouquet, revealing grapefruit, white peach, and jasmine blossom, layered with brioche, roasted hazelnuts, and flinty minerality.
- Palate: Vibrant and structured, unfolding layers of lemon zest, green apple, and toasted almond, with an underlying chalky minerality and creamy texture. The wine’s crisp acidity and extended lees aging contribute to a long, elegant, and sophisticated finish.
Did You Know?
Ed Carr, the chief winemaker at House of Arras, is the only non-Champenois winemaker to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for sparkling wine production. His dedication has elevated Tasmania to global recognition, positioning it as one of the few regions outside of France capable of producing Champagne-caliber sparkling wines.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Fresh oysters with lemon and mignonette sauce – Enhances the wine’s saline minerality and crisp acidity.
- Grilled sea bass with beurre blanc – Complements the citrus and toasty notes of the wine.
- Aged Comté or Parmesan cheese – Matches the wine’s autolytic complexity and creamy texture.
- Truffle-infused risotto – Enhances the nutty and umami undertones developed through lees aging.
