A World-Class Tasmanian Sparkling Wine
NV Jansz Tasmanian Premium Cuvée, Tasmania, Australia
Wine of the Week by Amy Reiley
If you’re thinking, “There’s such a thing as Tasmanian sparkling wine?” You’re not alone. But there are, in fact, Tasmanian sparkling wine producers. You see, the climate in Tasmania is welcoming for producing crisp, clean and distinctive sparkling wines, or as some playfully dub them, “Tasmanian Champagne.”
In addition, this remote island’s isolation is a draw for several reasons. For one, the air is clear and relatively unpolluted. And the region is somewhat undiscovered on the international market. That makes it possible for winemakers to produce higher quality wines for less money than in regions where grape prices and land values are sky high.
About this Wine
Although it is just one of many great Tasmanian sparkling wines, I’ve chosen to feature this Jansz cuvée because it’s one that’s readily available in North America. And because I just plain like it!
Although there are many newcomers on the Tasmanian sparkling wine scene, Jansz has a surprisingly rich history on this virtually undiscovered island. Among its many distinctions, it was the first Tasmanian winery to make bubbly using Method Champanoise. Feeling they have a proprietary claim to the method, the folks at Jansz now call it Method Tasmanoise. (Oh those Aussies, how I love them.)
When it was established, Jansz was a still wine producer. But in 1986, Louis Roederer saw the potential in the vineyards of northeastern Tasmania and approached the owners about partnering on a sparkling wine. Thus, Method Tasmanoise was born. However in 1997, the Hill-Smith family purchased the winery. So although Roederer no longer has an interest in the house, Jansz continues the legacy of delicious Tasmanian sparkling wines.
Why buy this Tasmanian Sparkling Wine?
What I love about this sparkling wine from Tasmania is that it’s an incredibly easy drinking bottle of bubbly. This Jansz sparkling wine works for brunch, as an aperitif, with a meal or with a light dessert like a plate of biscotti or butter cookies. While many inexpensive sparkling wines are thin and one-dimensional, this wine has character but not so much as to overshadow a meal.
It offers citrus blossom aromas and notes of citrus fruits on the palate. But there’s also a nutty, nougat flavor that adds depth and truly makes this bottle of bubbly stand out for more reason than it’s geographic origin. At $20, it’s a fairly priced Australian sparkling wine and one I’d happily buy again and again.
For more information on the wine, visit https://www.jansz.com.au.
Want more wine recommendations? Check out my monthly Woman on Wine column.
Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.
Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.
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