Stefano Lubiana Brut Reserve NV: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Creamy, Saline & Celebratory

A serious Tasmanian sparkling from Stefano Lubiana, made in a traditional bottle-fermented style with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the estate vineyards in Southern Tasmania. It is polished and food-friendly, with apple, toast, crushed almonds, sea air, lemon, nectarine, cashew, brioche and a fine creamy mousse. Elegant enough for celebrations, but with enough texture and savoury detail for seafood, cheese, chicken and long-table lunches.

Highlights

• Certified organic and certified biodynamic estate producer
• Crafted by Stefano Lubiana — Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard
• Apple, toast, crushed almonds, sea air, lemon, nectarine, cashew, brioche and saline freshness
• Traditional-method sparkling from Derwent Valley and Southern Tasmania estate vineyards
• 95 Points — Curly Haslam-Coates, The Wine Front; 94 Points — James Halliday; 93 Points — James Suckling for the new-release NV(2022)
• 12.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

Apple, toast, crushed almonds and a hint of sea air lead the nose, followed by lemon, nectarine, apple and cashew on the palate. The mousse is fine and creamy, with thick beading and a clean saline edge that keeps the richness in check. Lees ageing and reserve wine add brioche, parmesan sable and nutty depth through the finish, while the overall shape stays fresh, elegant and very Tasmanian.

Winemaking

Brut Reserve is Stefano Lubiana’s house-style sparkling wine, made as a multi-vintage blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with aged reserve wines built into the blend. The current Organic Wine release is based on the 2021 vintage with reserve wine dating back to 2004, and the disgorgement is 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. Secondary fermentation takes place in bottle, followed by 20–24 months on lees before riddling, disgorgement and time on cork before release. The wine is made in a brut style, with dosage at 6 g/L.

Vineyard & Vintage

The fruit comes from two estate vineyards in Southern Tasmania. The Granton home vineyard overlooks the eastern bank of the Derwent River and sits around 100 metres elevation on grey gravelly loam over clay and red loam over gravel. The Huon Valley vineyard is cooler, with black loam over white clay and vines planted between 25 and 50 metres elevation. Together, the two sites give the wine ripeness, cool-climate acidity, texture and the saline freshness that makes it so compelling.

Why We Love It

This is one of those sparkling wines that feels quietly luxurious without needing to shout. The apple, lemon and nectarine keep it bright, while the almond, brioche and cashew details give it depth. It is biodynamic, beautifully made and serious enough for a special occasion, yet still delicious with a bowl of chips, oysters or roast chicken sandwiches.

Food Pairing

With creamy mousse, saline freshness, apple, citrus, almond and brioche complexity, this sparkling works across aperitif food and richer savoury dishes. It is especially strong with seafood, cheese, white meats, pastry, mushrooms and salty snacks.

Try matching this wine with →

• Oysters with lemon or mignonette — Find a Recipe
• Truffled chicken and mayonnaise brioche rolls — Find a Recipe
• Comté, leek and mushroom tart — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Pour it when you want Australian sparkling that genuinely feels special: oysters, birthdays, long lunches, elegant canapés, Christmas seafood or a quiet celebration at home. It has enough finesse for a toast and enough flavour for food.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2032. Stefano Lubiana gives Brut Reserve 8+ years of cellaring potential, and the reserve wine, lees ageing, acidity and traditional-method structure support graceful development. Store it cool, dark and stable, and serve well chilled.

Producer

Stefano Lubiana is based in Granton in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley, where Steve and Monique Lubiana have built one of Australia’s leading cool-climate sparkling and biodynamic wine estates. Steve moved from his family vineyard in South Australia to Tasmania to pursue Champagne-method sparkling wine, releasing the first NV Brut Reserve in 1994. The estate is Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard, farming without synthetic treatments, additives or pesticides and working with soil regeneration, seasonal rhythms and low-intervention cellar practices.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy premium Australian sparkling with cool-climate freshness, texture and organic credentials, these are lovely bottles to explore next:

• Same producer, elegant biodynamic Chardonnay with citrus and mineral detail — Stefano Lubiana Estate Chardonnay
• Organic McLaren Vale Blanc de Blancs with honeysuckle and apple freshness — Spring Seed Gypsy Blanc de Blancs
• Fresh Italian organic Prosecco with golden apple and white peach — Pizzolato Organic Prosecco DOC Brut

FAQ

What does Stefano Lubiana Brut Reserve NV taste like?

It tastes elegant, creamy and complex, with apple, toast, crushed almonds, sea air, lemon, nectarine, cashew, brioche and a saline finish. The mousse is fine and creamy, with good beading and a long savoury finish. It is more serious and layered than simple fruit-driven bubbles.

Is this sparkling wine dry or sweet?

This is a brut sparkling wine, with dosage at 6 g/L. It tastes dry and fresh, with just enough dosage to round the palate and balance the acidity. The richness comes from lees ageing and reserve wine rather than sweetness.

What is the body, acidity and bubble style like?

The body is medium, the acidity is fresh and the mousse is fine and creamy. The bubbles feel polished rather than aggressive, and the palate has both citrus freshness and nutty lees complexity. It is a traditional-method sparkling style with real texture.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a certified organic and biodynamic sparkling wine, not a No Added Preservative wine. It may contain sulphites, as most sparkling wines do, and organic/biodynamic wines are made to lower allowable sulphur limits than conventional wines.

How should I serve Stefano Lubiana Brut Reserve?

Serve well chilled at around 6–8°C. A white wine glass will show more of the almond, brioche, citrus and sea-air complexity, while a flute will keep the mousse tighter. No decanting is needed.

What food pairs well with this sparkling wine?

It pairs beautifully with oysters, prawns, scallops, soft cheeses, chicken, mushroom tart, brioche rolls and salty canapés. The creamy mousse suits richer textures, while the saline acidity keeps seafood and cheese fresh. For a vegetarian match, try a leek and mushroom tart or Comté gougères.

Can this sparkling wine be cellared?

Yes, it can be cellared. Stefano Lubiana gives Brut Reserve 8+ years of cellaring potential, and the wine has the acidity, lees complexity and reserve-wine depth to develop well. Drink now to 2032 for a balance of freshness and savoury complexity.

Is Stefano Lubiana Brut Reserve vegan friendly?

Vegan status is not specified for this wine. It is certified organic and biodynamic, and comes from Stefano Lubiana’s estate vineyards in Southern Tasmania. Choose a wine clearly marked vegan suitable if vegan certification is essential.

Who will enjoy this wine the most?

This is ideal for drinkers who love premium Australian sparkling, Tasmanian bubbles and Champagne-method wines with texture and savoury complexity. If you enjoy organic sparkling wine, blanc de noirs, blanc de blancs or richer aperitif styles, this will suit you well.

Is this wine keto friendly?

This wine is brut in style with 6 g/L dosage, so it is relatively dry for sparkling wine but not zero sugar. It may suit moderate low-sugar drinkers, while strict keto customers may prefer Brut Nature or very low-dosage sparkling. Alcohol still contributes calories, so enjoy it mindfully.

(SKU: SL_BR_NV)