It began as a dream for winemaker Ed Carr, but Australia’s most-awarded sparkling wine producer House of Arras is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
There can be no doubt that House of Arras has helped establlish Tasmanian sparkling wine as a global presence over the past three decades.
“We are so honoured here at the House of Arras to be celebrating 30 wonderful years of our cherished Tasmanian sparkling wine,” says Carr.
“Looking back, the story of our Pipers River winery has been remarkable and humbling, to say the least. It means so much to us the recognition and respect both industry and consumers alike have for our wine. We can’t wait to continue producing our Tasmanian sparkling for many years to come.”
While the story of House of Arras began in 1995, Ed Carr’s vision to craft exceptional Australian sparkling wine started in 1988 with a visit to pristine sites in Tasmania.
Carr immediately saw the potential of the island state's cool climate, maritime influence, and ancient soils for producing sparkling wines of elegance and longevity.
“When I first visited Tasmanian in 1988 there was about 46 hectares of land under vine, and now we fast-forward to today, and there’s over 2,000 hectares - it’s just phenomenal,” Carr says.
1998 marked the first edition of the winery’s flagship wine, the E.J. Carr Late Disgorged placed into tirage, to be unveiled a decade later in 2009. The following year in 1999, the first wine from the House of Arras debuted.
In 2001, Pipers River in Tasmania’s north east established as the home for the House of Arras, where the winery and cellar door are still based.
Arras, meaning intricate tapestry, sources fruit from seven regions across Tasmania, each selected by Carr for its unique microclimate and location. The regions span northern Tasmania in the Tamar Valley and Pipers River, then further south along the East Coast and Coal River Valley and around Hobart in the Huon Valley, Derwent Valley and Ouse regions.
Carr works with a combination of House of Arras-owned vineyard sites and local growers, many of whom have been with the winery since 1995.
Like in Champagne, House of Arras utilises the traditional sparkling varieties of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier.
“The combination of Tasmania’s pristine, cool-climate fruit and the process of extended lees aging produces a sparkling wine with a great balance of elegance and complexity," Carr says.
"Something I have always admired about Tasmanian sparkling wine is its notable longevity and incredible vibrancy which is a hallmark of the world’s finest cuvées.”
Under Carr’s leadership, the House of Arras has achieved remarkable international acclaim across major shows.
In 2024, Carr was the first Australian and second non-Champagne recipient of the Sparkling Winemaker of the Year award at The International Wine Challenge (IWC).
The 30th anniversary celebrations coincided with the release of House of Arras' annual 2025 Vintage Collection including the House of Arras E.J. Carr Late Disgorged Special Edition 2006 (top image).
“House of Arras is a respected sparkling wine brand not only here in Australia but across the world, and we are honoured to be continuing its legacy into its 30th anniversary in 2025,” says brand owner William Dong of DMG Fine Wine.
“Ed Carr’s craftsmanship has set the benchmark for premium sparkling wine in Australia, and we’re proud to be part of that legacy and continue it for the next 30 years and beyond.”
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