Tasmania sparkles on international wine stage

What a moment for the Australian wine industry. 

For the first time ever, an Australian winemaker has been named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in London. 

The award was presented to House of Arras chief winemaker Ed Carr, who attended a special ceremony held overnight at The Oval.

Regular readers will be aware GoTR does  not cover wine show results but this is a major win for Arras and Tasmania so we are making a rare exception. 

The win for House of Arras marks only the second time in the competition's 40-year history that a winemaker outside of Champagne has received the award

“I’m incredibly honoured to be named this year’s Sparkling Winemaker of the Year. It’s a challenge to describe the feeling, but I’m proud to be recognised amongst my peers for such a significant international award,” Carr said.

“Everything we do at House of Arras is based on our single-minded approach to crafting exceptional sparkling wine that speaks to Tasmania's cool climate and ancient soils and is equal to the world’s best. 

“This endorsement from one of the world’s most respected wine competitions is a testament to this mission, and I’m thrilled to share this award with the team.” 

The IWC is recognised as one of the world’s most rigorous, impartial, and influential wine competitions. Judged by more than 500 experts from more than 38 different countries, the IWC is an opportunity for winemakers worldwide to benchmark their wines against the very best.

The judging process sees an IWC medal-winning wine tasted by a minimum of eight judges before being awarded. This strict process ensures the results are widely respected by international wine retailers and buyers globally. 

In addition to Carr's win, House of Arras collected the Australian Sparkling Trophy for its 2014 House of Arras Blanc de Blancs, along with two gold and six silver medals at the IWC. 

House of Arras wines are available at fine wine retailers, the House of Arras Pipers River cellar door, and online from www.houseofarras.com.au.