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From budget-priced drops to special occasion wines and bubbles for conscious consumption, we’ve come up with a great list of sparkling wines to celebrate New Year’s Eve with.
Atmata 2023 Organic Sparkling, $20
If your New Year’s resolution is to be kinder to yourself and to the planet, consider this 100% Australian-certified organic wine. Vivacious with a refreshing effervescence, it has green apple and citrus notes with a slight creaminess and a lively, crisp finish.
One To One Brut Cuvée NV, $20
One To One is a new range from Hill-Smith Family Estates that punches above its weight, both in drinkability and in feel-good factor. Through a partnership with Greenfleet, every 6 bottles sold means another square metre of native vegetation planted in an area of Dja Dja Wurrung country in central Victoria. The bottles are 98% recycled glass.
This light-bodied Brut with an ABV (alcohol volume) of 11.5% has delicate musk and brioche aromas leading into flavours of brioche and zesty citrus. For those who are celebrating in style, it pairs nicely with oysters and prawns.
Primo Estate Prosecco NV, $24
With the Grilli family’s Italian heritage, little wonder their Primo Estate wines always make me feel as though I am being whisked away to Italy. This lean, pristine non-vintage Prosecco hits the spot with its fine bubbles, delicate peach and nectarine aromas, and citrus, pear and green apple notes.
It’s the perfect aperitivo but Primo suggests you try making a Rossini cocktail by blending fresh strawberry pulp, castor sugar and a dash of lemon juice then topping up with the Prosecco. That’s a win-win, we reckon.
Solara 2023 Prosecco, $19
Solara is a new sparkling wine brand from Duxton Vineyards, a producer with a strong focus on sustainability (it also produces the Rewild brand). With an ABV of 10.5%, it has citrus and green apple aromas, plenty of fizz, and zingy lemon and pear notes. Bright, fresh and fruity.
Solara 2023 Chardonnay Pinot Noir, $19
With a fine mousse, this one is more delicate than the Prosecco, enticing with buttery brioche, lemon curd and stonefruit notes. And the beauty is, it’s a wine that doesn’t cost the earth … literally.
Croser NV Traditional Method Sparkling, $30
Consistently a winner, Croser is made from premium Adelaide Hills fruit and shines with a finesse that is remarkable for the price. Rich with stonefruit, nutty and yeasty notes, it has a crisp green apple finish with a hint of spice.
Croser 2019 Vintage Sparkling, $42
A step up again, this gorgeous wine from Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills is elegant and creamy with nectarine and cashew notes, and a touch of strawberry for an indulgent finish. Croser’s lead winemaker, Ella Hoban, loves making summer spritzes and shares some of her top spritz recipes here.
Stockman’s Ridge 2022 Primrosé Pinot Noir Chardonnay, $35
The floral name Primrose comes from the Latin word ‘primus’ meaning ‘first’, symbolizing renewal, optimism, and youth. It’s a delightful name for this celebratory drop but it’s also apt, since vignerons Jonathan and Lisa Hambrook completely renewed their business since moving to Orange a decade ago. Their Stockman’s Ridge vineyards are maturing and they planted new vines this year, so there’s a lot of hope for the future.
The traditional Champagne varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, do well in cool climate Orange so this is a fine choice for NSW folk who want to drink local (and for anyone else of course!) A pretty pale pink with rose petal aromas, it is creamy with strawberry and citrus notes and a hint of pomegranate.
Jansz Tasmania Seasonal Release Premium Rosé NV, $30
Tasmania turns out some magnificent sparkling wines, the best of which rival Champagne, as we’ve seen in previous tastings like the one featured here. But even at the more affordable end of the spectrum you can find lovely drops like this special release with artwork by Tasmanian artist Daniel Gray-Barnett.
With aromas of rose and Turkish delight, a fine bead, and flavours of strawberries and cream, this sparkling Rosé is complex, beguiling and very stylish. It’s a beautiful special occasion wine presented in a bespoke giftbox that brightens the festive season. Jansz Tasmania has been solely devoted to making sparkling wine for nearly four decades, and not surprisingly has a huge number of devotees.
Joseph Sparkling Red NV, $90
Joseph Moda may be Primo Estate’s flagship wine but this sparkling red is its crowning glory. If you want a wine that is set to impress, this is it. Opulent and brooding with fine tannins and great complexity, it has layers and layers of nuanced flavours, including plums and berries and Christmas spice. Every year, I’m bowled over by this remarkable, impeccable wine and I guarantee you will be too.
**Enjoy more of our wine posts and recommendations here.**
