House of Arras Brut Elite

House of Arras was founded with a singular vision: to make sparkling wine in Tasmania that could stand alongside the great houses of Champagne. Under the guidance of winemaker Ed Carr, widely considered Australia's greatest sparkling winemaker, the house has achieved precisely that. Drawing on fruit from five distinct Tasmanian regions Derwent Valley, East Coast, Coal River Valley, Tamar Valley and Pipers River Arras captures the full breadth of the island's cool maritime climate.

Tasmania sits at 42 degrees south, comparable to Champagne's northerly latitude, and its long, slow ripening season builds the natural acidity and complex flavour development that underpins world-class sparkling wine. The Brut Elite is the house's entry-level expression but there is nothing entry-level about its ambition. Méthode traditionnelle, four years on tirage, and a dosage of just 3.13g/L mean the wine's purity and minerality are front and centre. The accolades are exceptional: trophies at the National Wine Show of Australia in 2024 and 2025, Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge, and the Chairman's Trophy at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships.

Year: NV

Colour: Light straw with a green and golden hue. Fine persistent and energetic bead.

Nose: Lifted, complex and beguiling aromas of gunflint, fresh white stone fruit, grapefruit pith, lanolin and oyster shell. Hints of brioche and proving dough from extended lees contact.

Palate: Light to medium bodied with a superfine, well-integrated mousse. Shimmering acidity carries notes of roasting nuts, brine and citrus pith across a long, structured finish with wonderful drive and complexity.

Region: Tasmania, Australia

Volume: 750mL

Alcohol: 12.8%

Food match: Oysters, lobster, sashimi, soft cheeses, charcuterie