NV Tasmania Brut Elite Cuvée 1601, House of Arras

• Style: Dry, complex sparkling
• Taste: Blood orange, lychee, oyster-shell minerality, stone fruit
• Food: Seared scallops, smoked salmon, brioche canapés
• Occasion: Sunday Lunch; Date Night
• Serve: Chilled in a flute, now or age 5+ years
• ABV: 13%

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Six years on lees have built genuine depth into this Pinot Noir-led blend. You'll find blood orange and lychee alongside stone-fruit refinement, with a saline, oyster-shell minerality that speaks to cool-climate origins. The signature tension of 62% Pinot Noir (29% Chardonnay) is held together by firm, natural acidity that makes this wine sing—dry at 3.6g/L residual sugar, food-driven and built to reward patience.

The Winery — House of Arras

Ed Carr, head winemaker since 1998, saw the potential Tasmanian fruit held for world-class sparkling wine before most did. Tasmania's cool valleys produce wines of remarkable finesse, and Carr is uncompromising about time on lees—insisting his vintage wines age for at least six years before disgorgement, a decision his accountants may question but which delivers the depth few sparkling wines achieve. The 2016 vintage was harvested early and hand-picked to preserve lifted acidity, then crafted using whole-bunch pressing with a small portion of new oak in primary fermentation and malolactic conversion for softness.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Tasmania's cool climate has made it a serious destination for sparkling wine, and this cuvée proves why. Pair it with seared scallops, smoked salmon or brioche-based canapés—the firm acidity cuts through richness beautifully. At 13% ABV, it's elegant enough for a date night aperitif yet substantial enough to carry a Sunday lunch through to dessert. Open now for its lifted character, or lay down another five years without hesitation; this wine rewards cellaring but doesn't demand it. Discover how Pinot Noir thrives across different climates and styles, or explore the full depth of Australia's sparkling tradition.