The Top Wines
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2021 Apogee Sparkling Rosé, Tasmania $81 RRP
This traditional-method sparkling wine – crafted by Tasmanian sparkling luminary Andrew Pirie – appeared in the top six wines of the day for Watkins, Baxter, Robinson, Mauritzen, Howes, and Yeates. Watkins called it “a great example of a traditional-method sparkling rosé. Aromatically huge, with autolytic notes of fresh bread dough and pastries – then cherries, peaches and honey come through. The palate is rich, but with a nicely ripping acid line that cleans up the finish beautifully, and a mouth-filling and lingering mousse.” Baxter noted that “the wine’s careful, persistent bead and orange hue entices the eyes. It explodes on the nose, with toasted brioche laden with savoury maple, charred yellow peach skin and ripe white pear notes. An amazingly complex little bubbly – perfectly for matched for sashimi, sushi, and other raw fish dishes.” Robinson described how “my favourite notes in the wine show themselves when you let it relax in the glass for a moment – suddenly you’re at a campfire, toasting marshmallows, as the smell of warmed biscuits, rich caramel, and nougat fills your nose. I would absolutely reach for this wine before I reach for a bottle of rosé Champagne.” Mauritzen found that “this wine is instantly remarkable for its aromatics – one of the most pronounced of the day’s line-up. There’s an undeniable element of salinity here. This wine is remarkable for its ability to muscle up against most dishes – a great rarity with sparkling wines.”
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2020 Rahona Valley Vintage Sparkling Rosé, Mornington Peninsula $60 RRP
Howes, Watkins, and Robinson all selected this wine – made by Bellebonne’s Natalie Fryar – among their top six from the blind tasting. Howes noted that “this wine opens up with some brioche and freshly-baked croissant notes – but what really hooked me was the little herbal lift, almost like picked dill fronds, on the tail-end of its aromas. On the palate, it has an opulence that made me come back to sample it again and again – a real wine-nerd’s style of sparkling wine, complex and textural, made by an assured hand.” Watkins called it “a curveball – a fantastic sparkling, but one that shows more of what I would consider blanc de blancs characters than rosé ones. It opens with oyster shell and green apple, then moves into creamy natural yoghurt followed up with a nice bit of toastiness. This is a wine of great harmony – where other wines in the line-up have leaned on primary fruit over winemaking complexity or vice versa, here there’s both bold primary fruit and layers of complexity to look into. I can definitely imagine using this wine as a palate-cleanser across a multi-course dinner – it would be delightful to get to see it unfold as you come back to it throughout.” Robinson found that “‘precision’ is the first word that comes to mind here. With its aromas and flavours of fresh white blossoms, white peach, and green apple, this wine showcases a vibrancy and crispness that thrills the palate. It’s thrilling to see a maker push the boundaries of what Australian sparkling rosé should look or taste like with this refreshing and poised wine.”
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NV Chandon Brut Rosé, Yarra Valley $30 RRP
This wine made the top six wines of the tasting for Howes, Yeates, Watkins, and Mauritzen. Howes described “a savoury, biscuit-y nose reminiscent of parmesan shortbread that shows some lees autolysis. In stark contrast to that savoury nose, though, the palate has a blood orange sorbet feel to it – juicy, lightly bitter, slightly confected, and utterly refreshing. Chalky and bright, it finishes with an Italian Amaro-like character – molto bene.” Yeates noted that “the nose was reverberating with piquant goji berry, sour pink cherries, flecks of toasty almond skin in the background. On the palate a steel-cut pink lady apple cracked with Himalayan pink saltiness, teeny-tiny Provençal strawberries that taste faintly of pink rose. This fizz has the prowess of a Prince guitar solo – glamorous and electric.” Watkins found it “super-interesting, with a nose of fresh orange rind and blood orange – but when you look a little deeper there’s an almost-peppery character that verges into menthol there as well. It would be very interesting to see this in cocktail – it feels like it’s half-way to an Aperol spritz already!” Mauritzen described how “it’s exciting to see a wine with a little more colour in a sparkling rosé line-up, and this one intrigues with its deeper ruby-salmon colour. The nose is as intense as the colour, with a defined and shapely aromatic profile defined by an array of red fruits – strawberry, cranberry, red cherry – while also carrying a distinctly Australian fine herbaceous character reminiscent of saltbush. I applaud this wine for so many reasons – but mostly because it pays homage to Australia’s place and culture so well.”
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NV Thalia Sparkling, Tasmania $45 RRP
Robinson, Watkins, and Mauritzen included this wine in their top six selections from the tasting. Robinson described it as “stepping on to the scene with Provençal grace, this sparkling unfolds an aroma spectrum from ripe strawberries and juicy cranberries through to vanilla yoghurt, almond meal, and white chocolate. The pale gold hue hides a deceptively deep-flavoured wine that’s unafraid to lean into its creamy, silky mousse. The pastry notes add lushness to the wine – almost like taking a bite of a warm berry pie – while it still retains a cleansing grapefruit-like acidity. The winemaking here shows elegance and restraint – allowing you to sip in delight as it unfurls in the glass. A bottle to wow dinner guests with over roast chicken, but one that would be even more splendid by itself.” Watkins noted “so much going on here – layers of complexity! A bit of red and golden apple character, honeysuckle, yoghurt drizzled with honey, a nicely autolytic brioche note – all the things you look for and love in a traditional-method sparkling rosé. There’s a nice zippy acid line that freshens and brightens up the palate without becoming excessively racy – one that can look really sherbet-y at times when revisiting the wine, but never out of place. The sweetness on the palate here – courtesy of some ripper fruit weight and a little bit of dosage – balances out that acidity nicely. A great mousse, too, with a lingering bead in the glass. Overall, it’s a wine whose richness and weight is complemented by the complexity on the nose, and balanced by an acid profile that tightens it all up beautifully.” Mauritzen found that “they say ‘never judge a book by its cover’ – but it’s hard not to appreciate the impeccable colour of this wine, a perfect pale salmon with flickers of rose gold. Dressed to the nines, this wine is ready to party! It powerfully expresses clearly defined aroma notes across a spectrum from fresh and tart to rich and toasty. It’s hard not to love a wine that so perfectly walks the line between freshness and power. The cherry on top has to be the structure: we’re talking rippingly high acidity that grabs your attention, while the rich creamy mousse melts in your mouth and brings you back down to earth. A wine that I could easily put it up against rosé Champagne for its elegance and complexity.”
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NV Howard Park ‘Jeté’ Methode Traditionelle Rosé, South West Australia $50 RRP
Baverstock and Watkins both selected this wine among their top six wines on the day. Baverstock described it as “a sundowner fizz that captures the luminous hues of dusk. It’s elegantly fragrant, showing red apple skins, fresh strawberry, and a light edge of raspberry jelly crystals. It keeps revealing new discoveries on the palate, with lovely toasty complexity, powdery musk-stick tannins, and bright-as-a-daisy acidity – all wrapped up in a level of sophistication that really grabs you.” Watkins found “a pinot-like nose of strawberries and light red fruits – maybe a bit of red cherry and raspberry – with a nice level of autolytic complexity in there as well. When autolysis comes through in pinot-dominant sparkling, it creates this beautiful character of slightly burnt toast – rich and doughy, but with a little something else that cuts through – and I can see that note in this wine. The mousse is somewhat coarse – but in this case it just adds an extra element to the shape of the palate. There’s a nice balance between sweetness and acidity here, and good length of fruit – which is appropriate, because this wine is all about those lovely lifted berry characters. There’s complexity to be found here, but only if you want to look for it – which makes it perfect for those who like their wines juicy and fruity, but who also might be starting to venture a bit deeper into what sparkling wine can offer.”
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2022 Greenhill Wines ‘Strawberry Fields’ Sparkling Rosé, Adelaide Hills $44 RRP
Baverstock chose this traditional-method wine – made by academic and fermentation expert Dr. Paul Henschke for his Greenhill Wines label – amongst her top six picks, describing “a visually gorgeous ruby-coloured wine that is very pretty to the eye – it has ‘spring carnival’ written all over it! First aroma impressions are summery and fleshy ripe berry fruits – an orchard’s worth of redcurrants and blackberries – and a bold brightness. These fruit notes dance on the palate, with a beautiful acid balance driving the flavours along to a creamy but chewy finish. There’s a mouth-filling fruit party going on, but also plenty of interest and complexity to find in the wine. Just a little bit of fun – but an overly delicious sparkling rosé.”
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2016 Chandon Vintage Brut Rosé, Yarra Valley $48 RRP
Mauritzen selected this wine in her top six wines from the blind tasting, noting that “this took the cake for me for its impeccable balance – not just in quality but in style. I went back to look at this wine three or four times, and each time there was something more to discover. It’s aromatically elegant, showing a bright citrus and white floral bouquet, but the palate is where this wine really kicks into gear and shows off its muscle. The fine, rich mousse gracefully dances on the palate, carrying a complex medley of fruits with it: grapefruit, mandarin, rhubarb, cranberry, white strawberry. Tell me that doesn’t immediately scream ‘summer in a glass’! While its brightness and elegance means this could read as an austere wine, it absolutely isn’t – instead, a gentle dose of sweetness brings ripping tension, ensuring that although it’s slender, it is in no way shy or linear. The finish is where this really won me over, with lingering notes of strawberry musk and citrus blossom – I was enamoured, and enjoyed every moment of the journey this wine took me on. Your wine-connoisseur friends will get their jollies from this, but it’ll also do wonders with your Nan at the Chrissy table.”
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2020 Nadeson Collis Saignée de Rosé, Henty $85 RRP
This wine made the top six list for both Baxter and Yeates. Baxter described it as “a cocktail in a glass – the blood orange hue delivers on its promise of a bouquet of ripe blood orange and burnt blood orange rind, backed by notes of rosso vermouth, candied carrots, and hints of goat’s cheese rind and Maltese oranges. The palate is savoury and full of bubbles – just begging for a splash of an amaro such as Picon or Aperol as an accompaniment.” Yeates noted that “this fizz speaks volumes about the amount of detail that can be layered into traditional-method sparkling wines. The flavour spectrum on offer often comes first from healthy, quality fruit – white cherry up first, followed by powdered raspberry on baker’s yeast and cracked wheat, all the flavours dancing on the pillowy carbonation. The acid line and fluffy mouth feel is begging for a starchy plate of saffron risotto with prawns – don’t forget to throw in oodles of butter at the final moment.”
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NV Sittella Cuvée Rosé, Pemberton $38 RRP
Yeates included this wine among his top six selections from the tasting, describing how he “felt like I was playing Tekken 5 with this one: choose your fighter! First into the ring, the densely packed aromas: a wall of dried and glaceau blood oranges and pithy strawberry tops reign supreme, speckles of myrtle leaf and bitter orange not far behind. The joyous aromas remind me of all the best parts of daytime hangs with mates – a splash here, a splash there, no fuss. Next into the ring, the palate: a welcome dab of briny salinity alongside slippery, wavy bubbles, all tied together neatly with mouth-punching acidity – think crème fraîche on a Samurai sword. With its lashings of Aranciata soda–adjacent flavours, this wine is begging to be paired with a roast Porchetta roll and a drippy celeriac remoulade. Who’s hungry?”
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NV Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine Petit Meslier Brut Rosé, Adelaide Hills $50 RRP
Yeates chose this wine for his top six wines of the day, noting “if this wine were a celebrity, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that it would be Maggie Beer. The nose – a warm hug of softly spiced pink pears, Calvados, swollen quinces and freshly rubbed bay leaf from your Gran’s garden. In another corner of the glass, a nod to Normandy cider and those honeyed heritage apple varieties bursts out of the bubbles and into the nostrils. The mouthfeel is zingy, Pink Lady apple–fresh, with a faint touch of chalk-duster texture and fluffy white strawberry sweetness. There would be no better dance partner for this than a huge, almost room-temp wedge of Brillat-Savarin cheese and crusty baguette – nothing else needed. The bloomy, lactic flavours of the cheese would marry with the puckering combo of strawberry and chalk all too well. Do Maggie a favour and get your family together for roast chook with all the trimmings, then crack this open with the soft cheese – before dessert, naturally.”
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2022 Blue Pyrenees Estate Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé, Pyrenees $35 RRP
Baverstock included this wine among her top six wines from the tasting, describing “an aesthetically pleasing rosé in the glass, with a nose that makes you want to dive straight on in. There are dried florals, but not the Nanna type. It’s also spicy – alas, not the Nanna type of spicy, either – showing red peppercorns. There’s also an assertively muscular, strong, and firm fruit presence – and that’s all just on the initial smell! This little number has a beautifully weighty and integrated mid-palate. With all its charm on display from the get-go, it’s clearly well-made – and, as a bonus, it has that very thought-provoking je ne sais quoi quality.”
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2013 Box Grove Vineyard Sparkling Roussanne Brut Rosé, Nagambie Lakes $58 RRP
Baxter selected this wine in his top six picks from the blind tasting, describing how “the fragrant bouquet unfurls with clementine, fresh-cut apricot, and orange blossom. This wine is so powerful and linear in its expression, backed by a pleasingly surprising complexity on the palate. The fine mousse unfurls on the tongue, fanning out to a custard-like creaminess on the edges, and the wine is driven down the palate by freshly-squeezed-orange-juice acidity, finishing biscuity and vibrant. A perfect celebration of summer fruit character – and perfect for any celebrations you may have planned this summer, too.”
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NV Hesket Estate ‘The Edwina’ Sparkling Rosé, Macedon Ranges $55 RRP
This wine made the top six selections for both Baxter and Robinson. Baxter noted that “this wine seeks perfection in angularity. The pale colour – hot pink tinged with orange – leads to a nose that bursts with raspberry juice, Ruby grapefruit rind, and rhubarb cream pie. The palate rounds off with juicy pomegranate, driven by a lemon-like acidity, and surrounded by trail mix and mint notes. It finishes strong, rigid and long.” Robinson described it as “‘a spring breeze in a glass’ is the best way to describe this wine – its raspberry-tea and just-ripe watermelon aromas remind me of a mid-afternoon picnic. On the palate, there’s soft cantaloupe to start, pomegranate seeds as a main, and tart blood orange notes for dessert. The saline edge gives it an aperitif quality, and it’s mouth-wateringly puckering, but with enough fruit weight to keep it all centred. It’s incredible to taste an Australian sparkling made with care and delicacy – able to embrace its inherent ripeness of fruit, without losing acidity or poise. The gorgeous balance between crunchy red fruit and chalky acidity here would make this an amazing pairing for smoked salmon or charcuterie – preferably in the park, under a tree.”
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2022 Hollydene ‘Holly’ Sparkling Rosé, Hunter Valley $35 RRP
Yeates and Robinson included this wine in their top six wines of the tasting. Yeates noted that “this wine floored me with its generosity. We’ve seen pink still and sparkling wines become quite homogenous in Australian consumer taste – usually a pale peachy-pink cream colour and unerringly dry, with variations only in body and vibe. It’s therefore so fun to see fruit and technique working together to make a sun-kissed, blush orange–hued style so reminiscent of the sparkling traditions of Europe. This one has intoxicating smells of wildflower honey, muddled strawberries, grapefruit oil, and pressed wild rose petals. There’s a generous attention to fleshiness built into the palate – which comes across as a welcome hug from an old friend in a world of austere acid-driven pink wines with low/zero dosage. Most people remember their first glug of Yellowglen ‘Pink’ – me oh my, how far we have all travelled in our tastes, but also how much fun it is to dip our toes back into well-made examples of lusher, fleshier styles when the opportunity arises.” Robinson described how “crisp, clean, granny smith apples take the lead on the nose, alongside a waxy lemon note and some punchy pink grapefruit – voilà, you have yourself a bright sparkling rosé. But hold it for a moment on the palate and it shows its breadth – some guava and candied apple notes balance the acidity with ripeness of fruit, rounding out the wine and adding complexity. There’s a plummy fleshiness on the palate that adds a pleasant amount of weight without taking away from the effervescent mouthfeel. A wine that plays on the freshness that Australian sparkling is so well known for – it lets the brightness take centre stage, and supports it with a red-fruited backbone. Whether you’re sitting on the deck and snacking on prawns, or enjoying a cheese board on the beach, this wine is proof that you don’t need to look past Australian shores for a fantastic glass of sparkling rosé.”
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2024 Main & Cherry Sparkling Rosé, McLaren Vale $32 RRP
Baverstock chose this wine for her top six selections, describing “a delightful sparkling rosé that speaks my language. The nose screams of the pure joy of lightly whipped homemade raspberry ice cream. It has a moreish sherbet-y mouthfeel, with freshly picked strawberry notes driving its somewhat-lighter palate weight – but with plenty of grip to make it a joy to drink. The little hit of sugar at dosage adds to the joy of this chilled style – a wine that has ‘summer days drinkability’ written all over it.”
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2022 Cuvée Co. ‘Ivy Elliott’ Sparkling Rosé, Robe $55 RRP
Mauritzen selected this wine among her top six wines on the day, noting that “this wine’s salmon-gold colour is a delight to look at in the glass – and it’s certainly the kind of wine you’d love to have in your glass at any kind of celebration. The excitement continues in the glass – this is a winner from the first sip, showing nuanced citrus flavours: think grapefruit, mandarin, and lemon curd, mixed with baked rhubarb and an underlying earthy tone. Some wines’ flavours follow a linear trajectory as you revisit them, but this one absolutely doesn’t. Returning for second sips, this continues to layer on the flavour, bringing out a complex array of strawberry notes – ranging from strawberry shortcake to strawberry jelly to strawberry musk sticks. The nuance here is exciting – by the end of my tasting pour, I was already picturing myself sitting down with a bottle of this in settings ranging from a lazy Saturday afternoon get-together to Christmas dinner with the family. The final sentence of my notes from the day was ‘Just fucking delish, man’ – and that sums this wine up perfectly.”
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2025 Tahbilk ‘Couselant’ Sparkling Rosé, Nagambie Lakes $23 RRP
Baxter included this wine in his top six picks from the tasting, describing “welcome to the 1980s, everyone: hot pink, Turkish delight, Hubba Bubba, wild boysenberries and sloe berries, cinnamon scroll, leg warmers, neon headbands, VHS aerobics, hot yoga and Barbie make-up. The vibrant but fine bubbles lift both the palate and the spirit, backed by juicy blueberry notes and an almost chewing gum–like finish. A brilliantly retro rosé bubbles, eminently suited for reminiscing, celebrating, and partying.”
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2024 Tampopo ‘Radio Tampopo’ Traditional Method Lambusco, Murray Darling $40 RRP
Robinson chose this wine for her top six wines from the blind tasting, noting “what better way to enjoy Christmas ham than with a glass of this gorgeous, deeply-hued sparkling rosé? Black cherries burst on the nose, supported by deep plums and blackcurrants. There’s also a spiciness evident here, with cinnamon and nutmeg adding depth to the fruit. The ruby hue would suggest that these aromas are all that this wine has to offer on the palate, but it’s pleasant to find so much more – a line of spearmint and raspberry leaf adds freshness and lift, while a savoury underbelly frames the wine, giving it a structure and finish that lasts all the way to dessert. I could think of nothing better to have in my glass this holiday season.”
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NV Josef Chromy ‘Tasmanian Cuvée’ Rosé Methode Traditionelle, Tasmania $37 RRP
Howes featured this wine among his top six selections from the tasting, noting that “this reminds me of the beach on a windy day – there’s a salty, sandy feel to the nose, alongside some greener orchard fruit notes. On the palate, that greenness translates to Granny Smith apple and Davidson plum, with enamel-rattling acidity driving the flavours down to a beautifully long finish. The Glenn McGrath of the line-up for me – seemingly straightforward, yet unerringly accurate in its line and length. Ooh! Ahh!””
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2023 Ghost Rock ‘Zoe’ Sparkling Rosé, Tasmania $50 RRP
Baverstock selected this wine in her top six wines of the day, describing how “this wine promises it all – and delivers. A beautiful rose-gold bubble nails the brief for how a sparkling rosé should look. It’s bursting with ripe black fruits, alongside smotherings of brioche, biscuit, and cracked walnuts. On the palate, it’s savoury and toasty from the tip of your tongue through to the end, finishing with a candied rose flavour – just to remind you of this wine’s quiet confidence. Its Christmas-lunch vibes that mean it would match perfectly to the poultry or game dishes you might lavishly linger over. As they say – if it looks like a rose, smells like a rose, and tastes like a rose, then it’s a damn fine rosé!”
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2017 Radenti Sparkling Rosé, Tasmania $70 RRP
This wine appeared in the top six picks for both Baverstock and Mauritzen. Baverstock noted that “the light salmon colour here tells me that a sophisticated drop is at hand – possibly a French-inspired style. The explosion of red apple, fresh green strawberry, and raspberry fruit notes from this fizz is incredible. With its bursting bubbles, this sparkling rose builds texture not just with tannin, but also with its exquisite effervescence. It’s not a simple little thing, but full of masterful yeast complexity, including brioche, toast and honey notes. In fact, I just love the yeastiness it brings – it’s creamy, it’s mouth filling, and it has a delightful savoury edge.” Mauritzen described it as “some wines are a sommelier’s delight, and this is absolutely one of them. The nose is almost savoury, singing with notes of fresh yeast, buttered brioche buns, and toasted sourdough – I was hooked before taking a sip. The palate delivers a whole other array of delights, bringing brightness in the form of fresh lemon and grapefruit, balanced by a saline edge and umami tones – maybe from age, or from some genius blending work, but they really sing in this wine. There’s also jammy strawberries, and a surprising and delightful note almost reminiscent of fresh figs. The vibrant, chalky acidity continues to deliver freshness throughout – much-needed in a wine with so much earthy depth. I want to use this wine to wash down roast duck and pancakes smothered in Hoisin sauce, because it will absolutely hold its own in a pairing like that. I tip my hat – this wine tells a story, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.”
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NV Centennial Brut Rosé, Southern Highlands $45 RRP
Watkins and Baxter included this wine in their top six wines from the tasting. Watkins described “quite a dark colour on this wine – where some of the others in the line-up have been verging on blanc de noirs territory, this one fits firmly in the Pantone swatchbook of traditional sparkling rosés. Some nice ripe fruits coming through – slightly riper cherries, almost going through into fresh plums – and a delightful creamy character. There’s a hard-to-define note on the nose that comes across as a smidge musty – but it’s subtle, and it adds to the wine rather than detracting, because it draws you back to the wine to keep exploring those layers of complexity. The wine is quite rich on the palate, but not dominated by sweetness – the creamy note on the nose extends to the palate, giving a nice rounded texture. The mousse is quite mouth-filling as well. A rich and textural wine whose acidity and creaminess begs to be paired with a simple charcuterie plate featuring some fresh fruit – I’m imagining prosciutto with fresh fig.” Baxter noted “welcome to the dark side! A sunset pink hue glows in the glass, leading to a complex nose layered with blush strawberries, red currants, fresh rhubarb, Satsuma plum, almond croissant, and red rose extract. The crunchy palate is fleshed out by a fine-beaded mousse, and is laden with blood orange rind and raspberry notes that linger on the tongue long after the bottle is done.”
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NV Delamere Sparkling Rosé, Tasmania $43 RRP
Howes chose this wine for his top six selections, noting that “this one is a surprise – the nose shows some unexpectedly green bramble fruit characteristics, like the white part of the strawberry. The palate is full of pickled watermelon and watermelon rind notes – refreshing and moreish, driven by pristine, fresh acidity and a fine bead. Perfect for a picnic in the park or an alfresco dining moment – best enjoyed with friends, good tunes, and another bottle on ice, ready to go.”
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NV Curtis Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé, South Australia $35 RRP
Howes selected this wine among his top six wines of the tasting, saying “everyone in the wine world has a ‘dirty little secret’ or two – wines they adore even though they don’t fit in with accepted notions of ‘good taste’. This would be one of mine. An ultra-ripe nose of raspberries, Bing cherries, and boysenberry compote, with a lick of confected spearmint at the back – almost reminiscent of spearmint lollies. Juicy, clean and fresh on the palate, with a gently foamy mousse and and some mid-palate richness that emphasises the ripeness of the fruit. This falls into the category of breakfast juice for me! Don’t even worry about the OJ for a mimosa – this is more than smashable as-is.”
