The Proposition - South Australian Sparkling
We pondered (agonised even) over what style of sparkling wine to produce. Should we do Champagne? Too expensive... Should we do Asti? Too cheap... Should we do Prosecco? Too obscure... But then my winemaker brother Tom showed me this Fizz he had produced. But it wasn't just any sparkling wine. This was different, and it was bloody difficult to make. The difficulty in making the wine, is probably why we've not been able to find a similar example anywhere else in the world.
The result however, is what has got us pretty excited. It's a bit like having a fresh punnet of strawberries in a glass. Refreshing, fruit sweet, crisp and clean. Drink with anything, anytime, but not just anyone!
Details
Production Notes:
This critical aspect to this sweeter style of sparkling wine is the palate structure and dry finish. This results from a difficult winemaking process that traditional and more economical methods simply cannot replicate.
The base wine is one of the key grape varieties of Champagne; Chardonnay, matured for 12 months with a measured amount of oak handling to provide structure, flavour and colour retention.
Free run Adelaide Hills Semillon juice (cold pressed to minimise solids extraction) provides sweetness and freshness, with fermentation halted very early by chilling and coarse filtration.
The final component of "The Proposition" is a splash of full-bodied, barrel fermented Adelaide Hills Shiraz, which imparts colour, complexity and palate structure.
The result is an attractive blush colour, balancing acidity and most importantly, tannin structure, which delivers a refreshingly dry finish that perfectly balances the initial sweetness on the palate - and encourages further consumption.
Nb: At bottling, we have chosen a crown seal to close the wine, simply becuase it is the highest quality closure available. Furthermore, you won't lose an eye trying to open it!
Additional Information
