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A SpArkLIng HIStory
Far more engrained in winemaking history than many people realize , sparkling red wine has a story almost as long as wine production itself , from happenstance carbonation in ancient civilizations to the emergence of méthode champenoise . It has roots in the Emiliaromagna region of Italy , where winemakers have used Lambrusco grape varieties to create bubbly reds since Etruscan times . After falling out of favor following the boom of massproduced Lambrusco in the 1970s and ’ 80s , it is now back on the radar of wine savants as a more artisanal product
Away from the old World , the entry of sparkling reds to Australia dates back to the late 19th century . The first production of sparkling Burgundy , as it was known , was in 1881 through a partnership between a Melbourne doctor and the French champagne maker Auguste D ’ Argent , who together formed the Victorian Champagne Company .
This was followed in 1893 by the creation of a sparkling Shiraz by French winemaker Edmond Mazure at Auldana in Adelaide , and the beginning of Hans Irvine ’ s time with great Western winery , where , with Charles pierlot , he also made use of the local Shiraz grapes . Benno Seppelt took charge of this historical winery in 1918 , and to this day Seppelt great Western is known for its sparkling reds .
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