Jansz Tasmania

THE JANSZ TASMANIA VINEYARD LIES IN THE TAMAR VALLEY, ON THE NORTHERN TASMANIAN WINE ROUTE, DEEP IN THE HEART OF THE PIPERS RIVER REGION. AN EXCEPTIONAL VINEYARD SITE, IT IS LOCATED IN THE SMALL CORNER OF NORTH-EASTERN TASMANIA THAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS ‘SPARKLING TASMANIA’.

LEFT: The Jansz property in northern Tasmania

CENTRE: Tasmania’s cool climate is perfect for premium sparkling wine

RIGHT: The Jansz Tasmania Wine Room, 40 minutes from Launcesto TASMANIA HAS A LONGER WINE history than many realise: the first vigneron was Mr Bartholomew Broughton of New Town (near Hobart), who began growing grapes with great success in the early 1820s. His wines won Tasmania’s first international award at the Paris Exhibition in 1848 and his vineyard continued to produce excellent fruit up until 1850, when the new owner pulled out the vines with little view to the future potential of the land.

It was not until the decades following the second world war that winemakers began to realise the island’s potential for producing exceptional cool climate wines and pioneers including Jean Miguet from France and Claudio Alcorso from Italy brought with them their vision and determination, igniting Tasmania’s fledgling wine industry.

Jansz Tasmania’s success can be attributed to its maritime climate, which provides ideal conditions for the slow ripening of fruit and lingering acidity so essential to the production of premium sparkling wine. With a climate close to that of Champagne and Burgundy, the region has captured the imaginations of many world-renowned Champagne houses: in 1986 the owners of Heemskerk Wines were joined by the esteemed Champagne producers Louis Roederer and together they embarked on the production of a premium vintage sparkling wine.

The head of Louis Roederer, Jean-Claude Rouzard, was personally involved in establishing the Jansz vineyard, planting it with the classic varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The ultra-cool growing conditions saw these grapes ripen slowly, developing intense, delicate and refined flavours – the very essence of top quality sparkling wine.

Jansz Tasmania was the first sparkling wine produced in Australia using the traditional method (Méthode Champenoise) of sparkling wine making, whereby the effervescence is produced through secondary fermentation in the bottle. Today Jansz calls it Méthode Tasmanoise.

After recognising the potential of the region, in 1997 the Hill-Smith family turned its eye to Tasmania, acquiring Jansz and beginning the journey that has seen the winery become the most highly regarded sparkling wine house in Australia.

The first wine produced was Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée 1989, released in 1991. Over the coming years, the collection expanded, and in 1999 Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvée NV was released, as well as a limited release Jansz Tasmania Late Disgorged Vintage Cuvée.

In 2004 the Jansz Tasmania Wine Room officially opened on-site at the Jansz vineyard, allowing visitors to experience and taste the outstanding selection of sparkling wines.

October 2005 saw the release of the Jansz Tasmania Premium Rosé NV and the long awaited Jansz Tasmania Vintage Rosé: made from a select parcel of the best Pinot Noir grape from the estate.

In November 2012, the Hill-Smith family announced a further significant investment in Tasmania – the purchase of 300 hectares of land in the Coal River Valley, near Hobart. Here the family established the Jansz Parish Vineyard, thereby expanding their resource of exceptional Tasmanian fruit.

Today Jansz Tasmania is an award winning sparkling wine specialist, producing a small piece of luxury to be enjoyed by all. ❧

Tasting notes

JANSZ TASMANIA PREMIUM CUVÉE NV

Appearance: Pale gold in the colour

Aroma: Honeysuckle and citrus scents, slight aromas of nougat, roasted nuts and a hint of strawberry from the Pinot Noir

Flavour: Delicate fruits and creaminess fills the mouth with a lingering finish of citrus and nougat

JANSZ TASMANIA VINTAGE CUVÉE

Appearance: The palest gold colour delicate bead

Aroma: Enticing scents of lemon curd, white flowers and fresh cream

Flavour: Elegant, layered and powerful with crème brulee notes and candied lemon peel

JANSZ TASMANIA VINTAGE ROSÉ

Appearance: Pale colour rose, resembling rose petals or pink diamonds

Aroma: Powerful aromas of toasted brioche, quince blossom and rose petals

Flavour: A beautiful, rich plate of vibrant red fruits and Turkish delight, matched with creaminess, a hint of pepperberry and truffles with a lingering, mouth-watering finish JANSZ TASMANIA LATE DISGORGED VINTAGE CUVÉE

Appearance: Pale gold in colour with a fine, persistent bead

Aroma: Complex nose with intense notes of sea spray and shucked oysters, brioche and truffle

Flavour: Richly layered palate with flavours of caramelised pears, truffled honey and toasted almonds JANSZ TASMANIA SINGLE VINEYARD VINTAGE CHARDONNAY

Appearance: Pale gold with an exceptionally fine bead

Aroma: An intense, complex nose of truffles, delicate toast, oyster shell, dulce de leche, Amaretti biscuits and white chocolate

Flavour: A precise layered palate of nougat and roasted almonds with complex notes of crystallised lemon and sea spray