The essential Victorian Methode traditionelle, from vines surrounded by the blue hued Pyrenees, so named for their beauty and similarity to the dividing ranges bordering France and Spain. French eccentricity was the genesis behind Blue Pyrenees Estate, it remains central to the winemaking philosophy. Entrepreneur Francois Henri was so inspired by the picturesque blue hills that he commissioned a painting which has since become the famous label. A cépage of the holy trinity, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, a healthy tranche of Meunier.

The production of Methode traditionelle has been an essential part of the winemaking at Blue Pyrenees for many years, the original raison d'être. Established 1963 by the Champagne houses of Charles Heidsieck and Krug, an adherence to the transcendent French influence of the founders is central. In 1992, the Blue Pyrenees team decided to experiment with hand picking their fruit, under floodlights, in the middle of the night. The results were amazing, a most memorable vintage of outstanding quality, Midnight Cuvée was born.

What's any special occasion without Bleasdale? Effusive and generous, Bleasdale's effervescent red gives so much more. A richly flavoured sparkler, the poly vintage Bleasdale is assembled from barrels of maturing Shiraz across several years, topped up with liqueur de tirage and treated to a secondary ferment in own bottle. An evocative palate and nose, fruits steeped in liqueur, mint and ribena, supported by a length of luscious coconut/ carob oak and toothsome, cherry ripe tannins.

Enthused by a consuming desire to make great wine, Andrew Nugent honed his craft as viticulturalist and winemaker amongst the vines of McLaren Vale before returning to the Adelaide Hills, where he established his very own wineworks at Woodside. Hand crafted from fruit grown to mineral rich soils above the historic Bird in Hand gold mine, a pure Pinot Noir with superb effervescence, dominated by red berry characters, adorned by a lift of stonefruits and floral.

Sparkling Shiraz has been re-introduced to the Best's line up after almost forty years. Great Western is renowned for effervescent Shiraz, long known as Sparkling Burgundy since the early 1900s. Today's market is rediscovering the virtues of creamy red wines which can demonstrate the virtues of universal drinking appeal, good structure and fine texture. Australia can lay claim to this style as its own, completely unique, it has become Great Western's most profound contribution to the world of wine.

It was the superlative richness of McLaren Vale fruit that give sire to the uniquely Australian style of Sparkling Shiraz. Beresford set aside those parcels which show the greatest character and charm, for creation of a ripe, redolent effervescent style of Shiraz. Batches are slowly vinified at cooler temperatures and filled to a mix of seasoned French and American oak barrels for completion of ferments and eighteen months maturation. A velvety purple mousse invites the nose and palate into a cornucopia of ribald red fruit perfumes and succulent satsuma plum flavours.

Real Prosecco, from the exclusive DOC of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, crafted from the delightfully fruity Glera grape, exactly as it should be, finished to deliciously dry styling. The scenic landscapes and rolling countryside of clay ridden limestone slopes, invigorated by the Italian sunshine and tempered by the cool Mediterranean microclime, stimulates the vines and yields wines defined by their structural elegance and remarkably refined bouquets. The harmony of its elegant palate is accompanied by freshness and fragrance, its persistent perlage, ideal for every occasion.

One of Tasmania's most praiseworthy efforts, Bay of Fires expresses fully the exceptional quality of fruit grown to superior vineyards, nurtured exclusively for the production of world class sparkling wines which exhibit classically structured palates and the most splendid texture. A top shelf effort made to true Methode Traditionelle, Bay of Fires is reverently crafted by the stars of the Hardy winemaking team, rested for years on lees sediment, to develop a luxurious mouthfeel and infuse the wine with elegance, rich fruit character and layers of complexity.

There are very few vineyards which take sparkling wine so seriously as to plant Pinot Meunier, the third grape variety in the holy trinity of the noble Methode Champenoise. Fruit is selectively whole bunch pressed for creamyness and complexity, mollified by malolactic, stirred for palate richness and filled to sediments bottle for three full years yeast lees maturation. Brimming with brioche, apricots and apple flan, its largess of indulgent fruit charactors and beguling perfumes, undulate and evolve along a long, fine bead of crunchy stonefruit flavours, creme fondant and crisp minerality.

Recently Disgorged, in the opulently Methode Traditionelle way, allowing extended time on sedimentery yeast lees for the maximum measure of flavour development and textural richness. Selection of grapes is at the core of Barringwood RD, the harvest is closely scrutinised for inclusion of nothing but the best fruit, whole bunch pressed, softened by the magic of malo and treated to the ardors of stirring battonage before bottling, remuage and the extravagance of five years age. A sensational bead releases florals, seaspray and biscuit, exceptional effervescence, suffused with wondrous complexity.

Assembled from wines across several vintages, a selection of well aged stocks matured in seasoned casks, topped up and rotated according to the ancient Solera system. Fermented in own bottle and tiraged for optimal effervescence before release, an immensely satisfying style of redolent red sparkling, decidedly rich and complex, proffering cassis, blackberry and violet fruits. Balnave practice the high art of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, its ribald pink mousse, blooming with moreish wine jube characters within a cosset of smooth milk chocolate tannins.

Bendigo's Maiden Gully has been producing outstanding and memorable Shiraz wines for over forty years. Balgownie have matched parcels of their most predisposed fruit with harvests of correspondingly amicable Shiraz grapes from splendid vineyards in Victoria's central districts and the Yarra Valley. A singularly generous, effervescent Shiraz wine with chewy tannins, full flavoured palate and engagingly spiced aromas. The Sparkling Shiraz of choice to accompany chocolate cherry desserts, game birds, juicy red meats or pork with rich sauces.

The final word in purple hued, effervescent opulence, crafted from the Shiraz of some distinguished old plantings on the illustrious Wendouree estate vineyard in Valley Clare. Grapes are traditionally open air vinified and plunged by hand, treated to an extravagant term of five years in well seasoned oak vats, followed by a year of secondary ferment on sedimernt lees in own bottle before disgorgement and reseal. Redolent of rosehip, dark cherries and liquorice allsort, its spectacular mouuse unravelling layers of oak influenced complexities, olive, pepper and bay, over a flourish of flowing chiffon tannins.

The House of Arras make the most sophisticated sparkling Rose style, a magnificent mousse of salmon hued indulgence, achieved through a scrupulous selection of harvests, an uncompromising approach to vinification and extended term of bottle age on sedimentery yeast lees. The fragrant red fruits of Pinot Noir dominate, the layered complexity of applejack, rhubarb and bakers spice, all supported by a juicy orchard acidity, a modest frame of flattering tannins and the toothsome creamyness of liqueur expedition dosage.

Arras Grand Vintage is a wine of outstanding peerage, fashioned from the fruit of superior sites, enriched by the great complexity of character that follows six years tirage. A tapestry of flavours and aromatics suspended within an elegant mousse, Arras is artisanaly crafted from the noble Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to true Methode traditionelle. After several years resting on lees and an extended bottle maturation, this peerless wine from Tasmania's finest vineyards, carries the distinction of a world class, effervescent Cuvée.

The first of its kind, a salient example demonstrating the values of meticulous winemaking and a commitment to extended tirage maturation. Crafted in what was to eventually become the established Arras housestyle, employing the best vinification and viticultural methods to achieve wine of the highest quality. Following ten years tirage, EJ Carr Late Disgorged presents the original 1998 Arras in a new guise, a cuvee filled with layers of complexity and intensity. EJ Carr displays all the elegance, power and vibrancy of world class sparkling wine.

The House of Arras is built on the exceptional quality of fruit grown to the most superlative cold climate Tasmanian vineyards and an uncompromising standard of vinification techniques mastered over decades. Nothing less than the pinnacle of artisanal Australian sparkling winemaking is permitted to be bottled behind the Arras label. Slowly tiraged for a period of no fewer than five years, Brut Elite shows great complexity from the extended aging while exhibiting a brightness of fruit and structural elegance representative of truly world class sparkling wine.

The House of Arras can call on the most exceptional Tasmanian harvests, befitting the highest standards of Methode traditionnelle. A priceless endowment of vineyards which were established on the merit of terroir and clime, growing conditions which are uncannily similar to the spiritual home in the old world. Beautifully poised, a well structured and elegant style of immense complexity and persistence, nectarines and jonagold, the fruit of seven years tirage, the opulence of truffles and brioche, roman nougat, amaretti and exotic spice.

In their pursuit of excellence, to grow the highest quality grapes and create the finest Sparkling Syrah, Aramis decided to ask the best winemaker to handle their fruit. McLaren Vale born and bred, he knows every acre of soil and every coastal breeze. Most importantly, he develops a kinship with each and every vine. Aramis won't say who this reputable man is, but his brilliance as a winemaker is evident from the moment a bottle of Aramis is opened. That was the arrangement made with the evasive artisan, to allow the Syrah to speak for itself.

A boldly Pinot Noir and Meunier dominant Cuvée with just a soupçon Chardonnay, all hand picked off vines grown to a site made famous as one of the first sightings of a Tasmanian tiger Thylacinus cynocephalus. Frogmore Creek at Campania in Coal River Valley yields the finest sparkling wine grapes on the apple Isle. 42° South is given the full luxury treatment, an extended ageing on lees extracts exceptional richness from sediments, to be followed by disgorgement and doseage in true Methode traditionelle.