2017 Quartz Reef Methode Traditionnelle Vintage Blanc de Blancs

The Real Review’s Sparkling Wine of the Year

Quartz Reef has been leading the charge for Central Otago sparkling wine for more than two decades, and this 2017 Blanc de Blancs shows exactly why. Made entirely from Chardonnay grown on their biodynamically farmed Bendigo vineyard, it comes from a cool, steady season that delivered pristine fruit with natural acidity and drive.

After whole-bunch pressing, the base wine was fermented in stainless steel and old oak before tirage. It then spent several years on lees, building texture and complexity while keeping its fine, persistent bead.

The wine is focused and elegant, with citrus and green apple at its core, layered with hints of brioche and roasted nut. Fresh, dry and beautifully balanced, it’s a benchmark example of how serious traditional-method sparkling can be in Central Otago.