Sparkling wine encompasses a remarkably diverse range of regions, grape varieties and production methods.
Beyond Champagne, traditional-method wines are produced across Australia, New Zealand, England and other cool-climate regions, while Prosecco offers a fresher, fruit-led expression of the category. Australia also has its own distinctive sparkling traditions, from cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blends to Sparkling Shiraz.
Understanding how and where these wines are made is a useful starting point for navigating the category.
How Is Sparkling Wine Made?
The method used to create the bubbles has a significant influence on the style and texture of the finished wine.
Traditional Method
Secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle, followed by a period of ageing on lees. This is the method used in Champagne and by many leading sparkling wine producers elsewhere.
Extended lees ageing can contribute greater texture and complexity, with characters ranging from citrus and orchard fruit to toast, brioche and nuts.
Tank Method
With the tank, or Charmat, method, secondary fermentation takes place in a pressurised tank before the wine is bottled.
The approach is particularly associated with Prosecco and generally preserves more of the wine's fresh fruit and floral character rather than emphasising extended lees-derived complexity.
Ancestral Method & Pét-Nat
The ancestral method involves bottling wine before its initial fermentation has finished, allowing carbon dioxide produced during fermentation to remain in the bottle.
Often associated today with Pétillant Naturel, or Pét-Nat, the method can produce a wide range of styles depending on the grape variety, region and producer.
Exploring Sparkling Wine Styles
Australian Sparkling Wine
Australia produces some of its most recognised sparkling wines in cooler regions where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir retain the acidity required for traditional-method production.
Tasmania has become particularly important, with producers including Jansz, Clover Hill and 42 Degrees South producing wines across non-vintage, vintage and Rosé styles.
The Adelaide Hills is home to producers including DAOSA and Croser, while the Yarra Valley has a long association with sparkling wine through producers such as Chandon Australia.
These wines range from fresh, approachable cuvées to vintage and late-disgorged releases capable of further ageing.
Prosecco
Prosecco is known for its fresh, aromatic style, typically showing citrus, pear, apple and floral characters.
In Italy, Prosecco is produced primarily from the Glera grape in the country's northeast, including the recognised DOC and DOCG regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
Australia also has a well-established history of wines labelled Prosecco, particularly in Victoria's King Valley, where the style has become an important part of the region's wine identity.
Sparkling Rosé
Sparkling Rosé spans a broad spectrum, from pale, delicate wines intended to be enjoyed young to more structured traditional-method expressions with extended ageing.
Pinot Noir is particularly important to the category, contributing red-fruit character and structure, although grape varieties and production methods vary considerably between regions and producers.
Australian Sparkling Red
Sparkling red wine has a particularly strong history in Australia, where Shiraz is the variety most closely associated with the style.
Sparkling Shiraz combines the depth and fruit of red wine with the freshness of sparkling wine, ranging from bright and youthful expressions to complex bottles that benefit from considerable bottle age.
Rockford Black Shiraz remains one of Australia's best-known examples of the style.
English Sparkling Wine
Southern England has emerged as an important sparkling wine region, particularly for traditional-method wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier.
Its cool climate and chalk-rich soils have encouraged considerable investment in the category, with producers such as Nyetimber establishing an international reputation for English sparkling wine.
Choosing a Sparkling Wine
The breadth of the category means there is no single definition of what good sparkling wine should taste like.
For greater texture and complexity, look towards traditional-method wines and longer lees ageing. Prosecco generally offers a fresher, more fruit-driven style, while Sparkling Rosé can range from delicate to structured. Australian Sparkling Shiraz provides something different again, combining red-fruit depth with the freshness of sparkling wine.
Region, grape variety and production method are often more useful guides than price or occasion alone.
Shop Sparkling Wine at Kent Street Cellars
Our Sparkling Wine collection brings together Australian and international producers across traditional-method sparkling, Prosecco, Sparkling Rosé, Sparkling Shiraz and more.
Explore wines from Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley, Italy, England and beyond, with Australia-wide delivery and same-day delivery available across Sydney.
