6 Australian Sparkling Wines That Outshine Champagne This Christmas
The Christmas season calls for sparkling, and we always seem to reach for the big names when we’re looking to impress. This year, we’ve set our gaze a little closer to home than France—and we aren’t sacrificing on quality. We spoke to Australian sparkling obsessive Tristan Jallais to get the drop on local wines that are perfect for the silly season.
Here are six wines to match any price point or palate that easily rival Champagne.
Patrick of Coonawarra P-Series Brut Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir
Limestone Coast, SA
Image Credit: Patrick of Coonawarra | Website
This is an absolutely delicious wine. It works for any occasion—it’s fresh, elegant, with a little texture and some fruit coming through. It’s seriously great value for a faultless drop. Sitting around $22, this is one to pick up to impress on a budget without sacrificing quality.
2023 Paracombe Pinot Noir Chardonnay
Adelaide Hills, SA
Image Credit: Paracombe Wines | Website
Paracombe Wines is a smaller, family-owned producer, this wine has a little more structure and body than the P-Series. You’ll find it for around $35, made entirely from estate-grown fruit. It’s fresh, elegant, and crafted with real care—think lemon, citrus and beautiful aromatic finesse.
2022 Eminence Blanc de Noirs
Whitlands, VIC
Image Credit: Eminence Wines | Website
Claire Birder is a well-respected winemaker in Australia, and she’s at the top of her game with this wine. From the top of the King Valley, Eminence Wines super cool-climate vineyard is one of the highest in Australia. There’s plenty of sunshine, which makes it perfect for sparkling. The result is a structured, round wine that’s rich, mouthfilling and flavour-forward. Expect sweet red fruit, tart plum and strawberry. A fantastic, textured wine at around $47.
2021 Georgia Dale XI XI Blanc de Blancs
Yarra Valley, VIC
Image Credit: Gerogia Dale Wines | Website
Georgia Dale might be newer on the scene, but she’s a very skilled winemaker who’s spent time at bigger vineyards like Chandon. This vintage wine has time on lees, bringing notes of lemon, lime and almond meal with a creamy texture and a long line of acid. Everyone jumps on this one because it’s approachable yet effortlessly complex. Plenty of layers here, and great value at around $62 a bottle.
2019 Bellebonne Blanc de Blancs
Pipers Brook, TAS
Image Credit: Bellebonne | Website
Bellebonne sits at the top of the tree for Australian sparkling. Made from 100% Chardonnay and left on lees for several years, it’s layered and complex—expect apple with a dash of lemon and creamy brioche notes coming through. Handpicked with plenty of care, there’s poise and depth that rivals a good French Champagne on nearly any metric. Around $145, this is for special occasions—one to impress, and one to savour.
2011 Mitchell-Harris Sabre Late Disgorged
Macedon/Pyrenees, VIC
Image Credit: Sabre | Website
Sabre had challenging year with cold, wet conditions produced something truly special here. The fruit is blended from two regions to deliver elegance, complexity, and power. Expect cracked wheat, brioche, and roasted nuts adding savoury depth that balances the acid beautifully. Sitting around $125, it’s a premium Australian sparkling—and you’ll struggle to find any import at that price point that comes close to its quality.
Tristan doesn’t mess around when it comes to great Australian sparkling. He’s got nothing against a good Frenchie, but he reckons branding is what keeps people reaching for international bottles. These huge Champagne houses produce almost industrially, so supporting smaller independent wineries this summer sounds well worth it to us.
We’ll raise a glass to that—Aussie sparkling is definitely having its moment.
Main Image Credit: WSET | Website