Jacob's Creek Sparkling

Unlike Champagne which must be made in France using traditional méthode champenoise, Jacob's Creek Sparkling is an Australian sparkling wine that focuses on approachable fruit flavours rather than complex yeast character. While Champagne often emphasises minerality and lengthy lees ageing, this Barossa bubbly prioritises fresh citrus and apple notes with just a hint of brioche, making it more immediately enjoyable and less austere than many French counterparts.

NV stands for 'non-vintage', meaning this sparkling wine is a blend of grapes from multiple years rather than a single harvest. This blending technique allows Jacob's Creek to maintain consistent flavour and quality year after year, smoothing out variations that weather might cause in individual vintages. Non-vintage sparkling wines are typically designed for immediate enjoyment and represent the house style more reliably than vintage-dated bottles.

Serve Jacob's Creek Sparkling well-chilled at 6-8°C in flute or tulip glasses to preserve the bubbles and concentrate the fresh citrus aromas. The medium body and clean finish make it versatile for both aperitif service and food pairing - try it with fresh seafood, light salads, or creamy cheeses. Because it's designed to be approachable rather than complex, it doesn't require lengthy breathing time like still wines.

The bright citrus and apple character makes this sparkling wine excellent with shellfish, sushi, and fresh goat's cheese, while the subtle brioche notes complement fried foods by cutting through richness. Its medium body can handle slightly heartier fare than lighter sparklings - think chicken Caesar salad or fish and chips. The clean, crisp finish also makes it a natural match for spicy Asian cuisine, where the bubbles help cool the palate between bites.

Once opened, Jacob's Creek Sparkling will maintain its fizz and freshness for 1-3 days if properly stored with a sparkling wine stopper in the refrigerator. The key is minimising air exposure and keeping it cold to preserve both the carbonation and the delicate fruit flavours. Unlike still wines that can sometimes improve after opening, sparkling wines are best enjoyed immediately as the effervescence is part of their essential character and charm.