Prosecco & Sparkling Wine

Our region’s diverse terroir, ranging from cool, high-altitude vineyards to warmer, river-flat areas, provides an ideal environment for cultivating grapes suitable for sparkling wine production. Let’s delve into the world of our sparkling wines, focusing on Prosecco, Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir and Sparkling Rosé.

Grape Varietals in Sparkling Wine

The choice of grapes for sparkling wine production can significantly influence the flavour profile and style of the final product. While Chardonnay is a popular choice for Blanc de Blancs, many other grapes can be used to create sparkling wines. Some common grape varieties include:

• Chardonnay: Offers a crisp, elegant style with citrus and mineral notes.
• Pinot Noir: Brings red fruit flavours, structure and complexity to sparkling rosés and blends.
• Pinot Meunier: Adds body, fruitiness and early maturity to blends.
• Riesling: Offers a refreshing, aromatic style with citrus, floral and, sometimes, honeyed notes.
• Pinot Blanc: Provides a neutral base with citrus and apple flavours.
• Glera: The primary grape used for Prosecco, offering a light, fruity style.

The specific grape varieties used can vary depending on the desired style of sparkling wine, the region’s climate and terroir, and the winemaker’s preferences.

About Sparkling Wine Production

Sparkling wine production involves capturing carbon dioxide within the wine, creating bubbles. The four primary methods for achieving this are:

1. Méthode Traditionnelle: This classic method involves secondary fermentation in the bottle, resulting in complex flavours and fine bubbles. It’s often associated with Champagne but is used in many other regions, including Mudgee.
2. Charmat Method: Also known as the tank method, Charmat involves secondary fermentation in large stainless steel tanks. This method is often used for producing sparkling wines with a lighter, fruitier style.
3. Carbonation: The simplest method, carbonation involves artificially injecting carbon dioxide into the wine. This is commonly used for producing sparkling wines on a larger scale.
4. Pétillant Naturel (Pét-Nat): This method involves bottling the wine before the primary fermentation is complete, trapping the naturally occurring carbon dioxide within the bottle. Pét-nats are known for their rustic, cloudy appearance and slightly sweet or off-dry flavours.

Prosecco

A Refreshing Italian Classic

Prosecco is a sparkling wine that originated in the Veneto region of Italy. The Prosecco grape, also known as Glera, is indigenous to the hills around Treviso in the Veneto Region of Italy. It’s characterised by its bright, light and refreshing taste, making it a popular choice for celebrations and casual gatherings.

Flavour Profile – Prosecco typically has a delicate and fruity flavour profile, often described as floral or citrusy. The specific flavours can vary depending on the vineyard and the blending of different grape varieties. Common flavours include:

• Citrus: Lemon, lime and grapefruit
• Floral: Honeysuckle, elderflower and acacia
• Fruity: Apple, pear and peach

Sweetness Level – Prosecco is generally classified as ‘dry’ or ‘extra dry’. This means it has a low residual sugar level, making it a refreshing and light-bodied wine. However, there are also sweeter versions available.

Why People Love Prosecco

• Refreshing: Prosecco’s light and bubbly nature make it a perfect choice for hot weather or as an aperitif.
• Versatility: It pairs well with a variety of foods, from appetisers to main courses.
• Affordability: Compared to other sparkling wines like Champagne, Prosecco is generally more affordable.
• Celebration: Its bubbly nature makes it a popular choice for celebrations and special occasions.

Prosecco offers a delightful and refreshing sparkling wine experience. Its light, fruity flavours, versatility and affordability have made it a beloved choice for wine enthusiasts worldwide. Mudgee Region’s producers have embraced this versatile grape variety, crafting Proseccos that capture the essence of the Italian style while showcasing the unique nuances of the region’s terroir.

Where to Find Prosecco in the Mudgee Region:

Blanc de Blancs

A Pure Expression of Sparkling Wine

Blanc de Blancs (French for ‘white of whites’) is a prestigious type of sparkling wine made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. This variety offers a crisp, elegant style with citrus and mineral notes, showcasing the purity and complexity of the Chardonnay grape.

Flavour Profile – Blanc de Blancs typically exhibit the following characteristics:

• Citrus: Lemon, lime and grapefruit
• Mineral: Chalky, flinty or stony notes
• Aromatic: Floral, apple or pear

Why People Love Blanc de Blancs

• Elegance: Blanc de Blancs is known for its refined and sophisticated character.
• Complexity: The pure Chardonnay expression often leads to complex and layered flavours.
• Longevity: Well-made Blanc de Blancs can age gracefully for many years.

Mudgee Region’s producers are increasingly producing Blanc de Blancs, recognising the potential of their Chardonnay vineyards to produce exceptional sparkling wines. The region’s diverse terroir, with its cooler climate and well-drained soils, provides ideal conditions for growing Chardonnay grapes suitable for Blanc de Blancs.

Where to Find Blanc de Blancs in the Mudgee Region:

Traditional Sparkling White Wines

The ‘Classic’ Sparkling

Traditional sparkling wine, often made using the Méthode Traditionnelle (Traditional Method also known as Méthode Champenoise), is a popular style of making sparkling in the Mudgee Region. This method involves secondary fermentation in the bottle, resulting in complex flavours, fine bubbles and a creamy texture. Some classic Mudgee Region sparkling wines are also made using the ‘Charmat’ or tank method. Usually traditional sparkling wines are a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sometimes Pinot Meunier, which gives the wines complexity and depth.

Sparkling Lingo

Brut: This speaks to the sweetness level of the wine and means the wine is dry with not too much sugar added (usually less than 12g/L).

Cuvée: This term can mean a couple of different things but usually means the first (and best) presses of the grape juice are used to make this sparkling wine. It can also refer to sparkling wine that’s made of a specific blend of different varieties of grapes.

Disgorgement: This is the process by which excess yeast or ‘yeast lees’ (the yeast cells sediment) are removed from the bottle before the cork is inserted after secondary fermentation.

Dosage: This is the extra dose of more wine and possibly more sugar that is added to the wine to top it back up when the yeast is removed in disgorgement.

NV: Stands for Non-Vintage. It means that this sparkling wine is a blend of multiple vintages (years) of wine to create a standard house style.

Flavour Profile

• Complexity: Traditional sparkling wines are known for their complexity, with layers of flavours developing over time.
• Bread and Toast: When Méthode Traditionnelle is used, the secondary fermentation in the bottle often imparts notes of bread, toast and brioche.
• Citrus and Fruit: The specific flavours can vary depending on the grape varieties used, however, citrus and fruit notes are common.

Why People Love Traditional Sparkling Wine

• Balanced Flavours: The complex and layered flavours offer a bold, intense drinking experience.
• Celebratory: Traditional sparkling wines are often considered elegant and perfect for a special celebration!
• Longevity: Well-made traditional sparkling wines can age gracefully for many years.
  

Mudgee Region’s Traditional Sparkling Wine

Mudgee Region producers are increasingly experimenting with traditional sparkling winemaking, showcasing the Region’s potential for producing sparkling wines. Perfect for your next celebration!

Where to Find Traditional Sparkling in the Mudgee Region:

Sparkling Rosé

A delicate delight

Sparkling Rosé, a captivating blend of elegance and fruitiness, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Found in multiple cellar doors throughout the Mudgee Region, these wines often showcase delicate pink hues and enticing aromas of red berries, citrus and floral notes. Sparkling Rosé is often seen as a more approachable and less intimidating style of sparkling wine, especially for those new to the world of sparkling wines.

Flavour Profile

• Red Fruit Notes: Many Sparkling Rosés offer a delightful array of red fruit flavours, such as strawberry, raspberry and cranberry. These fruits contribute to the wine’s vibrant and refreshing character.
• Floral Notes: Floral aromas, such as rose, violet and honeysuckle, can add a delicate and fragrant dimension to the wine’s overall profile. These floral notes enhance the wine’s complexity.
• Citrus Notes: Citrus flavours, including lemon, lime and grapefruit, often complement the red fruit notes. These citrusy elements add a bright and zesty quality to the wine.

Why People Love Traditional Sparkling Wine

• Versatility: Sparkling Rosé pairs well with a variety of dishes, from cheese and canapes all the way through to desserts.
• Refined Elegance: Its delicate nature and complex flavours make it a sophisticated choice.
• Celebratory Spirit: Sparkling Rosé is pretty and delicious, which makes it the perfect wine for celebrations.
  

Where to Find Sparkling Rosé in the Mudgee Region

The Mudgee Region's sparkling wine scene is vibrant and diverse. This article has explored a range of styles, from the classic elegance of traditional sparkling wines to the refreshing fruitiness of Sparkling Rosé. We've delved into the crispness of Blanc de Blancs and the lively bubbles of Prosecco. While we’ve only highlighted a few of the many sparkling wines the Mudgee Region has to offer, many cellar doors in our region produce a wider array of sparkling styles, including multiple types of sparkling, Pét Nats, Sparkling Shiraz and more!

To discover more, visit our Cellar Door page.