Producing sparkling wine is challenging and fun. It is the wine style with the most potential for interventions possible for altering the wine style during its production. After producing the base wines the wines are left to settle and rest before tasting and the final assemblage which traditionally is done at the beginning of spring.

Assemblage requires the skill of the winemakers to blend in precise proportions the various wines in tanks to create both the quality and quantity that are required.

For the 2014 harvest Denbies Winemakers John Worontschak and Matthieu Elzinga were tasked with creating the Greenfields (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Cubitt Blanc de Noir (100% Pinot Noir), new for 2014 Cubitt Blanc de blanc (100% Chardonnay) and the Whitedowns White and Rose (new for 2014).

After four hours of tasting and testing different combinations and permutations the results were final and the wines blended are really good with finesse and balanced acidity. It was (2014) a great vintage for sparkling wines.

The wines will now be prepared for bottling in May before being laid down for between two and four years lees ageing.

John Worontschak
Denbies Chief Winemaker

(pictured – harvest 2014)