Sparkling red wine is a very Australian thing. I don’t claim we invented it of course, I’m a big fan of Emilia-Romagna’s delicious Lambrusco and have enjoyed red espumante in Portugal, but sparkling red wines have been part of the Australian wine industry since the late 1800s, when they were called sparkling burgundy.
Australian sparkling red wines have tended to be big, fruity, rich wines that often take pride of place on the Christmas table alongside ham, turkey, seafood, and even the Christmas pud. Sparkling shiraz is popular, but other grape varieties certainly work well. Here are some of the best Australian sparkling red wines I know. Grab a few bottles, chill them well and enjoy with good company. See video below for BBQ Pork Ribs, a great dish for sharing, and scroll down to FAQ to learn more about sparkling wine terms.
Castagna Sparkling Genesis Beechworth (Vic)
Arguably Australia’s best sparkling red wine, Julian Castagna’s biodynamic shiraz is mixed with a splash of viognier then fermented with wild yeasts. It spends 20 months in French oak and 2 years on lees. Minimal dosage means it’s dry with intriguing flavours and aromas of spice, raisin, tea leaves and juniper.
Fox Creek Vixen McLaren Vale (SA)
In this delicious red fizz, cabernet sauvignon adds tannic structure and cabernet franc herbal notes to fruity McLaren Vale shiraz. The result is a luscious, cherry-red sparkling red wine full of red berry and cherry flavours. There’s musky-vanilla-cinnamon aromas and a smooth palate finishing with gingerbread and toasted almonds.
Peter Lehmann Black Queen Barossa Valley (SA)
Pure old-vine Barossa shiraz from one of Australia’s most iconic winemakers spends a year in barrel then at least 2 more on lees to create this sparkling shiraz. This rich, deep purple-red wine is full of spicy dark fruit flavours, with notes of cinnamon, dark chocolate and leather, and a long savoury finish.
Pfeiffer Red Pfizz Rutherglen (Vic)
This sparkling pinot noir, made with fruit from 50-year-old Rutherglen vines, spends 6 months in French oak and at least another 6 on lees before a dosage of Pfeiffer’s chocolatey-blackberry port-like Christopher’s VP. It’s elegant, with cherry, red berry flavours, soft tannins and plenty of length.
Hollick Sparkling Merlot Coonawarra (SA)
Merlot doesn’t often feature in sparkling red wines, but perhaps it should. This bright ruby-red wine is in French oak for 18 months and has a dosage of vintage port-style wine. Velvety tannins and ripe raspberry-confectionary flavours make it a natural with ham and turkey as well as fruit desserts.
Updated 09 Dec 2024
Like any sparkling wine, sparkling red wines are best served chilled; 30–60
minutes in the fridge before pouring should be enough.
In the past Australian wines were named for the European classics that inspired them – so sparkling red wines were often called sparkling burgundy. Today we reserve place names – like Champagne and Burgundy – for the wines produced in those regions. So Australian sparkling shiraz is simply called ‘sparkling shiraz’.
Lambrusco, from the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna is probably the most famous sparkling red wine internationally. Australia also has a long tradition of producing sparkling red wines.
Red sparkling wine can be made from any red grape variety including shiraz, merlot, pint noir and durif.
