So you want to learn about sparkling wine from the best in the business?

Serious about sparkling wine? 

Want to learn more? 

Leading wine educator and Champagne experty Tyson Stelzer is teaming up with Ed Carr (House of Arras), Natalie Fryar (Bellebonne) and Andrew Pirie (Apogee) for the inaugural Tasmanian Sparkling Immersion on November 13-15. 

The quartet will host five intimate masterclasses, two winery visits, barrel tasting and a vineyard visit in the Tamar Valley and Piper’s River, home to some of the best sparkling wines in the world.⁠

⁠The winemakers have a combined experience of a 134 vintages and the weekend will showcase over 50 of their finest cuvées spanning three decades, alongside some other great sparkling wines of Australia, Champagne and the world. 

Along with three days of tastings and visits, there will a gala dinner, a cocktail dinner, brunch and two lunches at Evenfall, where Apogee and House of Arras will pair their wines with local Tasmanian produce.⁠

⁠The weekend is limited to just 33 guests. 

For more details check out https://www.tysonstelzer.com/tasmanian-sparkling-immersion-13-15-november-2026/

Join an expert for a lavish weekend celebrating fine Tasmanian wines

So you really enjoy cool-climate wines from Tasmania?

You don't mind splashing out on a special weekend of indulgence.

Wine writer and educator Tyson Stelzer might have something that is right up your alley with his Tasmanian Wine Weekend on May 23-25.

Stelzer, one of the world's leading experts on Champagne, will showcase top Tasmanian winemakers and their wines for what he describes as "the ultimate opportunity to immerse yourself in the places, people and processes behind not only Tasmania’s greatest sparkling wines, but its finest pinot noirs, chardonnays and rieslings, too."

The event will be be held after vintage in the Coal River and Derwent Valleys outside Hobart.

The weekend promises "lavish lunches, a cocktail-style dinner, prestige sparkling masterclass and a gala dinner, all in the presence of Anna Pooley and Justin Bubb (Pooley Estate), Steve and Monique Lubiana (Stefano Lubiana), Natalie Fryar and Hugh McCullough (Bellebonne and Wellington & Wolfe), Ed and Jen Carr (House of Arras) and Liam McElhinney (Lowestoft)".

The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of House of Arras and the 10th anniversary of Bellebonne, and the weekend will showcase more than 40 of the benchmark wines of current and back vintages from each of the six estates, matched to dishes crafted from the finest and freshest Tasmanian ingredients.

The all-inclusive weekend features all wines, meals, transfers via Apple Isle Tours and a choice of accommodation at Prospect Country House, Acquila Eco Resort or Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport. Special rates are also available should you wish to extend your stay.

There will be free time for an optional helicopter tour, round of golf, or just or to relax.

"My Tasmanian Wine Weekend has been in the making for more than two-and-a-half years, and I am very excited to welcome you to experience the incredible people, places and wines of Tasmania," Stelzer says.

For full details: https://www.tysonstelzer.com/tyson-stelzers-tasmanian-wine-weekend-23-25-may-2025/

Saffire, sparkling wines and a special weekend

So you really want to splurge on a special weekend designed to captivate lovers of sparkling wines? 

Champagne expert Tyson Stelzer will bring Billecart-Salmon and premium Tasmanian sparkling houses together for a special weekend at luxury resort Saffire Freycinet next year. 

Seven of Tasmania’s finest sparkling wine makers will feature over two nights, August 16-18, 2024, with the highlight a Billecart-Salmon Nicolas François vertical tasting masterclass. 

This is a rare chance to explore the past and present of the greatest prestige cuvée of Billecart-Salmon; featuring vintages 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002, 1998 and 1996 poured from magnums.

Stelzer (below) said it was a rare privilege to bring together the finest prestige cuvée of Billecart-Salmon alongside the best sparkling winemakers of Tasmania for the special weekend.

“Cuvée for cuvée and vintage for vintage across history, I rate Billecart-Salmon’s prestige cuvée Nicolas François as one of the top three sparkling wines in the world," he said. 

"Provenance is everything in Champagne and tasting six of the greatest old vintages back to the legendary 1996 direct from the museum cellar of the house in rare magnum format is a unique privilege."

Guests will also meet seven of Tasmania’s premium sparkling winemakers from producers Apogee, Bellebonne, Clover Hill, House of Arras, Kreglinger, Lowestoft and Wellington & Wolfe, and will taste 25 of the state’s finest wines including the House of Arras E.J. Carr Late Disgorged Méthode Traditionelle and Bellebonne Blanc de Blancs.

A weekend highlight is an interactive masterclass with House of Arras with Australia’s most-awarded sparkling maker Ed Carr. 

Produce-driven menus in Palate Restaurant and barbecues on the terrace will complement the free-flowing premium sparkling wines and Champagne. A tasting menu has been designed by very talented chef Paddy Prenter for the gala dinner.

“Guests can expect beautiful seafood with oysters coming from Melshell oyster farm in Dolphin Sands, Tasmanian rock lobster from our surrounding waters and octopus from the north of the state at Stanley," says Prenter. 

"The exceptional Wagyu beef from Robbins Island is unparalleled and perfection garnished with Tasmanian truffle, along with aged lamb loin, and farmed venison from Springfield Farm.” 

Saffire GM Patrick Barrie.“Tyson says: has a loyal following for our winemaker events here at Saffire, and in 2024 we are taking this weekend to a new level."  

All this luxury won't come cheap. 

All-inclusive rates on the Saffire Sparkling Weekend start at $7,500 per suite for two guests. The Saffire Sparkling Weekend is now open for bookings. 

See www.saffire-freycinet.com.au/sparklingweekend , or call (03) 6256 7888. 

Caley not yet released, but in big demand

When a wine has not yet been released but starts picking up accolades anyone wanting to access some of those bottles for their cellar will need to move quickly.

Yalumba The Caley Cabernet & Shiraz 2018 will be released globally on June 1, but is already in demand after a major triumph.

The classic blend from the family-owned Barossa winery took out the top spot at The Great Australian Red 2023 awards ceremony at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide.

The Great Australian Red is a wine competition created by respected international wine writers Matthew Jukes and Tyson Stelzer to recognise and celebrate the blend that defines Australia: cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.

Yalumba The Caley has become the first wine to take out the top honour four times, having previously won the award in 2014, 2015 and 2022.

"Matthew and Tyson are absolute legends, because they champion this blend as much as I do, and as much as all winemakers who love this blend," said Yalumba senior winemaker Kevin Glastonbury.

"It’s such an honour to receive this again. Two years in a row – I am blown away!”

People interested in purchasing the wine are encouraged to sign up to the Yalumba mailing list at https://www.yalumba.com/ for news and pre-sale opportunities. Mind you, it'll cost you $365 a bottle.

For more information and results visit thegreataustralianred.com

If you want to try before you buy, Yalumba has two tasting experiences available from June 1, offering that opportunity at cellar door.

Bookings through yalumba.com/experiences

Image: Matthew Jukes, Kevin Glastonbury and Tyson Stelzer, courtesy of GATR

Serious polish: How to keep your wine glasses in top shape

Wine writer and sparkling wine expert Tyson Stelzer could not find the perfect polishing cloth to keep his wine glasses in top condition. So he created one. 

"A decent glass is the most important thing you need to make the most of every bottle, and a great polishing cloth is the best way to keep your glass in top form," Stelzer said. 

"I own more than 1000 wine glasses and I wash and polish them by hand. 

"I’ve been searching for the ideal polishing cloth for years and I’ve never found it. Everything I tried was too large or too small, not sufficiently absorbent, or left smears or lint.

"Over the past two years, I've had some 50 prototypes manufactured and I put them all to the test on hundreds of glasses (lockdown entertainment!). There was one winner and I’ve used nothing else since.

"It’s a super-fine microfibre cloth with awesome absorbency. Dimensions 70cmx50cm – not so large that you can’t get it inside the glass, and not so small that you can’t cradle the glass with it as you polish the inside. 

Pre-orders are now open, for shipping in late March.

I haven't tried the cloth yet - and it isn't cheap ($29.95). That's about the cost of a good bottle of wine, which would seem to make it a worthwhile investment. 

https://www.tysonstelzer.com/online-store/other/tyson-stelzers-glass-polishing-cloth/