The Best Australian Sparkling Wine Under £50

Sparkling wine is Australia’s fastest growing export and is expanding six times the rate of the country’s still wine category, Tyson Stelzer’s 2018 Australian Sparking Report reveals. Australia’s sparkling wine is gaining popularity primarily due to its value and quality (especially since long-loved Italian Prosecco is now declining in quality). Production of Australian Prosecco has tripled since 2015 and is now worth AU$60 million with projections estimating sales could reach AU$200 million within the next few years.

Sparkling rosé
Bellebonne vintage rosé 2015 (RRP: £36) is the first release from Natalie Fryer, an accomplished Australian rosé winemaker, who’s already made popular wines for the likes of Kreglinger, Piper’s Brook,
Kreglinger, Jansz, Tasmania, and Ninth Island. Awarded 96 points in Stelzer’s report, Bellebonne has deep, powerful notes of wild strawberries and red cherry and a lovely long palate. Notes of pot-pourri, quince paste, and enoki mushrooms along with subtle white fruitcake spice are intensified by oak barrel fermentation.

Shiraz red wine
Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz NV (RRP: £15) is one of the very best makes of Shiraz wine online — Stelzer awards it an impressive 94 points. Deep red with crimson hues, this Victorian Shiraz boasts staple notes of black pepper, black cherry, and Satsuma plum. You’ll also notice flavours of dark chocolate oak, which were infused into the wine through oaking. Fine tannins and integrated oak provide structure and density which dissolves into a finish that’s bright, rich, and creamy.

Blanc de Blancs
House of Arras Blanc de Blancs 2008 (RRP: £50) offers an aromatic bouquet full of scents like grapefruit, crisp lemon, ginger, seaspray, toasted almonds, and white peach. The fruity and intense palette has been developed over time and is filled with complex flavours of nougat, brioche, vanilla, sautéed mushrooms, and fresh oysters. Awarded 96 points by Stelzer, these soft flavours are balanced by the wine’s natural acidity. The wine has a moreish, creamy texture and a flavourful, lengthy finish.
Other notable mentions in Stelzer’s report include Redbank Emily King Valley Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée NV, St Huberts Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Noir 2011, House of Arras Grand
Vintage 2007 Magnum, and Seppelt Show Sparkling Limited Edition Shiraz 2007. Any one of these delicious wines exemplify exactly why Australia is coming out on top of the ever-growing international Prosecco market.