Domaine Chandon
Star Cellar Door
Haven’t been to Chandon? Now’s a good time to pay the French-owned sparkling winemaker a visit. Last year, Chandon’s French parents, Moët & Chandon, spent a tidy sum revitalising the Coldstream cellar door, creating an intimate lounge bar where guests can sit and enjoy a glass of sparkling, a restaurant and second floor private ‘wine immersion’ tasting rooms. The producer of some of the best sparklings in the country keeps refining its image, and it’s not just in bricks and mortar.
Last year senior winemaker Dan Buckle turned an in-house wine project, which involved an experimental sparkling infused with orange bitters, into the monster seller Chandon S. Production is set to increase to match the company’s highly successful sparkling rosé.
Although known as a sparkling maker, do not overlook the serious table wine offerings led by chardonnay and shiraz. Take advantage of the weekly Sunday School program with tastings and food and wine matches. JENI PORT
OUTSTANDING WINE: 2013 Chandon Whitlands Plateau Blanc de Blancs, A$42