Welcome back to our educational series! We've journeyed through grape clones and winemaking basics, but now it's time to explore how some of the world's most elegant bubbles are made. This month with the release of our 2020 Matilda Sparkling's 2nd Disgorgement we're taking a closer look at Traditional Method Sparkling Wine.

The Traditional Method, known in France as Méthode Champenoise, is the gold standard for producing fine sparkling wine. It's a labour of love, involving a complex process that gives the wine its delicate bubbles, creamy texture, and incredible complexity.

The Journey of a Bubble: A Look at the Traditional Method

1. Harvest & The Base Wine: It all starts with hand-picking grapes (primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier) at a lower ripeness level to ensure high acidity—the backbone of great sparkling wine. These grapes are pressed and fermented into a still, dry "base wine."
2. The Tirage (Second Fermentation): The base wine is bottled with a small amount of yeast and sugar, and then sealed with a crown cap. This triggers a second fermentation inside the bottle. As the yeast consumes the sugar, it creates both alcohol and carbon dioxide gas, which, trapped in the bottle, becomes the wine's bubbles.
3. Sur Lie Aging: The wine is then left to age "on its lees" (the dead yeast cells). This period of contact, which can last from 18 months to many years, is crucial for developing the wine's characteristic aromas of brioche, toast, and nuts, as well as a creamy texture.

2020 Matilda spent 5 years En tirage

1. Remuage (Riddling): After aging, the bottles are gradually turned and tilted to guide the lees sediment down into the neck of the bottle. This process, originally done by hand on special racks, is now often automated.
2. Disgorging & Dosage: The neck of the bottle is frozen, and the crown cap is removed. The pressure inside the bottle expels the frozen plug of sediment. Before the bottle is sealed with a cork, a small amount of sugar and wine mixture (dosage) is added to top it up and balance the acidity.

2020 Matilda has a 6g/L dosage

Why Tasmania?

Tasmania's cool climate is a dream for traditional method sparkling wine. The long, cool growing season allows grapes to ripen slowly while retaining the high acidity essential for quality sparkling wine. This results in wines with a perfect balance of crispness, elegance, and beautiful fruit flavours. The world has taken notice, with Tasmanian sparkling wines regularly winning international accolades and rivalling some of the best from Champagne.

We invite you to experience the magic for yourself! Discover the incredible elegance and complexity of our traditional method Matilda sparkling wine, named after Margaret and Jack Pooley's Great-Granddaughter.

Happy Sipping!