Top Rated: Sparkling

Accepted wisdom is that Tasmania rules the sparkling wine roost, and while as a general statement this remains true it’s also evident that at the very top end, competition is on for young and old. A sparkling wine from Pemberton won the category this year (it was a runaway victor at the judging), with wines from Tasmania, the Yarra Valley, Orange and the King Valley also figuring prominently. In the past two years we have run separate red/white/rosé sparkling classes, but this year it was one class combined. The winner of this class now is the true sparkling crown-holder of the year.

This wine has been causing a stir around the traps for all the right reasons. It’s a knockout style but it’s also 100 per cent convincing; it jumped out of our line-up for the heady, powerful display that it puts on; as panel member Mike Bennie writes, it’s "profound". It’s not just a (sparkling) wine, it’s an experience.

2024 Sparkling Wine of the Year

Sittella Wines Grand Prestige Late Disgorged 2010, Pemberton

97 points (PD*) | Price when tasted $125

The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion is available now. Secure your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide here – and at all good bookstores.

Learn more about sparkling wine.

This is an edited extract from the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Mike Bennie, Ned Goodwin MW, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale. Cover art by Ka Mo.

*Panel decision – score awarded by the Halliday Tasting Team at the annual Awards judging.