The sparkling wines of Valley Loire are known for their vitality, freshness and affable drinkability. Within the picturesque and undulating, chateau lined terroirs of the greater Loire, lies the Appellation d'origine contrôlée of Vouvray, a region which yields a quality of sparkling that's rather unique, more generous and appealing, with an engaging complexity of flavour and delicate mousse. Marc Brédif was established 1893, one of the oldest maison in the commune, it remains the largest, a pioneer of the gently pétillant style of Vouvray sparkling.

The pick of Coonawarra Shiraz, treated to an extravagantly extended fermentation, for maximal uptake of dense, chocolatey purple fruit flavours, rakish colour and wickedly decadent chewy licorice textures, two years and more on gross sedimentery lees to infuse the wine with wanton richness, while taming and integrating the prodigal tannins. Eventually disgorged to true Methode traditionnelle, Majella is served with the ultimate indulgence, an inclusion of Reserve Vintage Coonawarra Port and dosage liqueur, crowned and resealed.

There are few places in the world, so predisposed to yielding vintages of the regal Champagne styles, as the chalky Downs of England's southeast. The noble House of Pommery send their eminent chef de cave on frequent forays across the Channel, to isolate the finest parcels of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, picked off the most exquisite sites at Sussex and Hattingley Valley, Hampshire and Essex. A luxurious bead of butter biscuits, almond and honey notes, citrus and red apple to the tongue, its creamy palate of lemon, meringues and tangy citrus peel, resolving on a splendid saline finish.

Louis Bouillot was founded in 1877 by Jean Bouillot at Nuits Saint Georges, a little village nestled in the heart of Burgundy's splendid Cote d'Or. Maison Bouillot is still located in Nuits Saint Georges, continuing the tradition of Cremant de Bourgogne, having acquired international fame for the excellence of its wines.

From those wonderful folks who brought us Grandin and Charles Boisset, the vineyards of Louis Bouillot lie within one of France's most superior appellations along the Nuits Saint Georges. A slightly effervescent wine, defined as Cremant, dominated by Pinot Noir, the balance of Chardonnay, Gamay and Aligote, sourced from grand old vineyards in La Bourgogne. Perle de Vigne Grand Reserve Brut is a superb representation of all that's noble and sophisticated about the House of Louis Bouillot, established 1877.

Here's a treat for the real enthusiasts of all good things Gippsland, an effusive, textural wine to match with a grill of the best beef or hunk of holiday pud. Fashioned to the complete methode traditionnelle, employing the full monty of bottle ferments, riddling and disgorgement, an elegantly structured, richly effervescent, plum and allsorts flavoured wine, layered with complexity and brimming with festive fruit characters. Gippsland Shiraz through and through, a lovely vibrancy and depth of flavour are complemented by its seemingly endless, mouthcoating finish.

An early harvest of Myrtle Vineyard Chardonnay, grown to the auspicious cool maritime clime of Gippsland Lakes, assembled with the pick of Pinot Noir, essential for building masculinity and introducing aromatic complexity, exquisite structure and generous palate length. Treated to the full extravagance of methode traditionelle, a luxurious five years in bottle ageing on yeast lees, infusing the wine with textural opulence and layers of creamy, effervescent biscuit richness. Match your Myrtle to a terrine of aspic, cockscomb and sweetbreads financiere.

Effervescent Shiraz and a thriller, based around barrels of aged wines sourced from the renowned dryland Schobers vineyard. The palate holds complex flavours of black plum and yeast autolysis, subtle creamy oak, concentration and fine persistent tannins. It is liqueured to a point of richness, yet the palate finishes dry due to the natural tannins and acidity.

Single vineyard Pinot Noir, hand picked off superior Kreglinger estate blocks at Pipers Brook, fruit is painstakingly sorted for excellence and gently whole bunch pressed. Nothing but the purest primary juices are extracted for an old world style ferment in seasoned French oak, full malolactic and nine months of repose to infuse texture and luxurious creaminess. The best barrels of vintage are identified for inclusion into the final Cuvée, bottled under liqueur dosage and sent for a secondary ferment in bottle over the course of ten years maturation.

From a dedicated sparkling wine vineyard, planted to a high density Pinot Chardonnay block of significant age, at the highly propitious climes of latitude 41° south. The cool coastal slopes of Pipers Brook and the southeast facing terroir of Kreglinger Vineyard, yield a truly exceptional wine. The nation's most refined and artisanal Methode Traditionelle, an addition of liqueur de dosage at disgorgement has added further richness and complexity to the already multi layered palate. The most refined Cordon de Mousse forming an effervescent necklace of petulantly popping pearl beads.

Sensationally oaked, crafted from exclusive parcels of Wild Witch Vineyard fruit, this redolent sparkler displays virile spice and cherry aromas with developed fruit characters of chocolate and earth. A richly flavoured and complex wine with soft tannins and a length of sweet berry fruit, warm rounded mouthfeel and lingering finish. Serve with crisp duck on caramelized root vegetables.

Aside from being Australian through and through, Sparkling Shiraz is a style of wine that keeps on giving, the bottom of the bottle, often representing an entirely different experience to the initial bouquet. Katnook has infused precious stocks of old red wine with a fine effervescence, creating an effusive sparkler that's equally comfortable at Sunday brunches or black tie dinners. Founders Block is layered with an extraordinary complexity of flavour, supported by generous palate structure and seasoned by a mix of fragrant spice.

If you like effervescent pink wines you will positively love Jansz Rosé. Crafted from the crème de la crème of vintage, the realization of a joint venture between Tasmania's finest sparkling wine vineyards and the eminent House of Louis Roederer, all in the pursuit of defining the ultimate Aussie Cuvée. Every block of vines was established with the specific aim to yield fruit exclusively for sparkling wine. Each stage of the winemaking process is made to the timeless Champenoise of true Methode Traditionnelle.

In 1986, Heemskerk was joined by the noble House of Louis Roederer in a pursuit of the definitive Australian sparkling. Louis Roederer shared in the belief that the climate and soils of Tasmania, so similar to those of the great winegrowing appellations in Burgundy and Champagne, were ideal for the production of finely structured Methode traditionelle. The essential Chardonnay characters of citrus and stonefruits, mingle with the rich autolysis of almonds and brioche, to build a rich and creamy, textural weight of fruit on the generous palate.

The excellence and refinement of a pure Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs, hand crafted in the old world way, for elegance, balance and finesse, offering magnificent complexity and exquisite length. Sourced from a terroir and clime very like the viticole of Champagne, Jansz offers a nose, palate and texture, that's uncannily similar to her prestigious French siblings. One of the nation's finest effervescent wines, a satiating aperitif style showing lifted fruit and complexity which defines Tasmania as the new world's most superior appellation in sparkling wine.

Jansz was Tasmania's first wine to be made according to traditional Methode champenoise, the only specialist on the apple isle, solely devoted to the art of sparkling. Late Disgorge is the extravagant technique of bottle ageing on sediments for an extended period. An exemplary vigilance in the vineyard realizes meagre yields of the most extraordinary quality fruit, to be exactingly crafted into a pinnacle of the wine makers art.

Why Meslier? Within the region of Champagne Meslier, or Petite Meslier as it is otherwise known, the Meslier grape is used, albeit in small quantities. Prized for it's acidity it gives the sparkling wine a vivaciousness synonymous with the style. Not only does Meslier bring acidity, but also vinosity and delightful light florals to both bouquet and taste. Irvine decided to tirage Meslier completely on its own for a number of reasons, but primarily to find out exactly what the grape could offer when ripened fully and fashioned into a pure Methode Traditionelle.

The concept of bottling Merlot as a sparkling wine came from the re-emergence of interest in effervescent Australian burgundy. Irvine has been aged in older oak casks to give maturity without much oak infusion, thereby lifting the Merlot characters in their own right. The elegance and richness of Merlot was such that it needed to be balanced by less than the usual liqueuring, hence the Brut designation. The dryer taste, the creaming of the bead, and the clear cut Merlot flavour all combine to give a truly individual sparkling red wine.

The aromatic French Vidal is the grape of choice for making Canadian Icewine. A long and steady ripener, it has rich, full aromas and flavours balanced by firm acidity. The ripe berries are dehydrated through constant freezing and thawing, a process that concentrates the sugars, acids and extracts, intensifying flavours and developing immense complexity. A joy for those who are accustomed to the best and appreciate the finest, delightful with fondue, sublime alongside recipes calling on roquefort, mascarpone or gorgonzola. Simply exquisite on its own.

Despite their enviable international reputation and formidable list of awards, Hollick are a small family vineyard winery at the southern end of the Coonawarra Terra Rossa strip. Since inaugural release, Hollick have received resounding critical acclaim for their innovative Sparkling Merlot. Bottled under crown seal to retain the powerful fruit and richness of mousse, serve chilled at every occasion, or as the Hollick team suggest, alongside smoked salmon and eggs benedict over grilled brioche Ouefs Hollique for a wickedly indulgent brunch.

Henkell & Sahnlein are one of the world's most renowned sparkling wine producers. Adam Henkell began vinifying fruit at Mainz in 1856. Today Henkell Trocken is one of the world's most popular and approachable sparklers, a vivacious wine with exquisite palate profile and fine effervescence. This pleasingly dry yet flavourful Cuvee owes its elegant character to an elevage of the finest fruit, harvested from both sides of the Franco German border, Chardonnay et Pinot Noir from France and Chenin Blanc from Saumur.

Trophys for Best Bottle Fermented Canberra, Best Sparkling Adelaide, Best Sparkling Murrumbateman Wine Show and 8 Gold Medals! An exclusively Tumbarumba wine crafted from hand picked grapes, mostly Pinot Noir 62% with a third of Chardonnay and a good component of Pinot Meunier. Hardys have taken their sparkling wines very seriously, mobilizing teams of specialist artisans who set the highest standards, traversing the nation to develop the most superior vineyards, whilst honing their skills to stellar heights.

Sir James Hardy, great grandson of founder Thomas Hardy, was awarded an OBE in 1975 for a lifetime of dedication to the community and the sport of sailing. A man of great personal integrity and irresistable charm, his crest adorns every bottle of Sir James, symbolic of a commitment to fine craftsmanship.

There's a very special block of exquisitely good Chardonnay called Flanders Fields, adjacent to the Grove Estate wineworks. Vinified alongside a superior parcel of local Pinot Noir and treated to the full regimen of Méthode Traditionelle, an astonishingly full flavoured effervescent wine brimming with lozenge citrus and underpinned by the toasty richness of sedimentery lees autolysis. An opportune confluence of higher altitudes and chilly climes, ripens the grapes to mesmerising intensity. A zealous adherence to the ways of la Champenoise completes a sensational Cuvée.

The most splendid bunches of Pinot Noir grapes are hand selected off closely managed vines grown to highly specialized sites in the cooler aspects of Adelaide Hills and Victoria's Alpine Valley.