Dominique Portet Brut Rosé L.D. Sparkling Wine

The grapes for this traditional-method sparkling come from two vineyards in the Upper Yarra. It's a mix of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. It sits lees for 2 years to build extra weight, and reveals itself as a totally delicious and elegantly poised wine, with fresh red fruits dancing around a tingling spine of acidity.

Ninth-generation winemaker Dominique Portet chose the cool climate of Coldstream in the Yarra Valley as home to the eponymous winery he founded in 2000. It was the culmination of a tenacious search for grapegrowing terroir to rival that of his native Bordeaux – but also the start of a new chapter in a winemaking story that has its roots in France in the early 1700s.

Now son Ben – generation 10 – heads the winemaking team, firmly observing the central tenets of this young yet historic estate: respect for tradition, understanding of site and an open mind towards contemporary practices that shape wines that are ever more refined and delicious.

The grapes for this traditional-method sparkling came from two elevated vineyards (250m) in the Upper Yarra. Both sites have benefited from very good growing conditions over recent vintages, with abundant warm days, cool nights and very little rain. This has allowed the fruit to ripen gradually with excellent flavour development and balanced sugars and acids.

The grapes were handpicked, gently pressed and fermented before going through secondary fermentation in bottle. The wine was then aged for two years in our cool, temperature-controlled cellars, then disgorged and given a light dosage prior to release.

This wine is great with light and flavourful dishes, like smoked salmon appetisers or prawns with a zesty marinade.