Mumm works with one of Australia's best on new Tasmanian Sparkling

Pernod Ricard launched GH Mumm’s first foray into Australian Sparkling, Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige, in Sydney last week.

Chef de Caves Laurent Fresnet collaborated with Tasmanian based Pernod Ricard winemaker, Trina Smith, to find the best Pinot Noir grapes on the island and to create this delightful Tasmanian sparkling wine.

At the launch, Smith (pictured above with MC Mike Bennie and Tasmanian culinary star Annalise Gregory) discussed her tour of Tasmania with Fresnet on his first visit there.

“We use the same varieties as the Champagne houses as well but we really wanted to emphasise that Pinot Noir from Tasmania. So, he knew we weren’t trying to, emulate or copy the Champagne. It's more about really showcasing what we can do and what we can bring, what we can showcase from Tasmania," she said.

Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige, says Smith says, a wine that combines the best of international tradition and heritage with the best local knowledge. It sits in the Mumm Terroir range and is made using méthode traditionnelle process and the very best of Tasmanian fruit.

It is the third wine in the Mumm Terroir range. New Zealand winemaker Jamie Marfell worked with Fresnet on the release of the Mumm Malborough Brut Prestige and Mumm Marlborough Vintage Rosé which were released in 2020.

Wine writer Mike Bennie was MC at the launch of Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige and suggested that the local partnership for the Champagne house is an opportunity to for the brand to re-invigorate and re-invigorate itself.

Bennie pointed out that the collaboration is a long way down the track from when a French Champagne winemaker advised Seppelt winemakers in Central and Northern Victoria how to make Sparkling wines as early as the 19th century. And, more recently, in the 1970s and 1980s, when larger Champagne houses decided that Australia was suitable for the production of Sparkling.

While they have largely departed our shores, Australian winemaking has advanced significantly. So much so that Australian Sparkling now has a place on the world stage.

Bennie said, “I think that Australian sparkling wine, particularly from Tassie, is rival, if not bettering, a lot of Champagne.”

He said, “So, when you see something like Mumm investing in Tasmania, you know that all of a sudden this is an even greater indication in terms of what the opportunity here is in Tasmania for sparkling wine.”

Trina Smith is obsessed with Sparkling wines. Her title is Group White and Sparkling Winemaker at Pernod Ricard Winemakers. She has been at Pernod Ricard since 2016 and it has always been her goal as a winemaker to make great tasting Australian sparkling wine. In a former life she worked at Brown Brothers making a number of sparkling wines and a number of the Patricia range wines.it

“We knew Tasmania had that climate We also knew the pedigree, the kudos of the wine was coming out of Tasmania at the moment. So, it seemed like a really obvious situation,” said Smith.

The hero of this wine is Tasmania’s Pinot Noir at 51 per cent which Smith says brings forth those flavours of red berries while the Chardonnay (44 per cent) brings the direction and line of the wine and the Pinot Meunier (5 per cent) brings the upfront fruitiness.

The result is a wine of red berries and Christmas cake with creamy flavours coming through.

Trina Smith’s newest Sparkling for G H Mumm is bright, beautiful and one to stock up on for the season that’s upon us.

Photography by Will Salkeld