- Winery: Emmalene
- Wine Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
- Variety: Pinot Noir
- Vintage: 2023
- Price: $32
- Find it: From the winery direct and select bottle stores
- Alcohol content: 12%
- You’ll like this if: You want a sparkling for everyday celebrations
- Body: Medium
- Mouthfeel: Crisp
- Taste: Refreshing, Lively, Vibrant
- Flavours: Strawberry, Raspberry, Bricohe
- Enjoy it with: Summer catch-ups with friends
- Food pairings: Picnics, charcuterie
Wine review: Emmalene Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé 2023
I recently popped open a bottle of the Emmalene Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé 2023, and honestly, these are the kind of bubbles you want in your fridge all summer long. From the first sip, it’s bright, juicy and seriously refreshing, with strawberries and raspberries front and centre and a squeeze of citrus. In the glass, it’s the prettiest pale pink with a fine stream of bubbles, and the aromas lean into grapefruit, green apple, fresh strawberries and raspberries, with just a soft touch of roasted almond and brioche in the background. It feels vibrant and lively, but still polished enough to bring out when you want to impress without trying too hard.
After a few more sips (because one won’t be enough), you really notice how fresh and easy-drinking it is. There’s a great balance between crisp acidity and a gentle touch of sweetness, so it feels clean and zippy rather than sharp. The bubbles are fine and creamy, the red fruit stays juicy through the palate, and there’s a refreshing, dry finish that makes you want to go straight back for another glass. It’s the kind of sparkling that works just as well for a casual picnic by the beach as it does with a big charcuterie board at home. Fun, flattering and dangerously easy to drink, this wine is exactly what everyday celebrations call for.
About Emmalene
Emmalene is a heart-warming Adelaide Hills story about two families whose histories and passions just happen to intertwine. On one side, you have the Bartsch family, longtime growers who’ve nurtured fruit for some of the region’s biggest names. On the other hand, the Bulman family, talented makers who know how to coax the best from every grape. The name Emmalene appears in both family trees, a serendipitous link that now binds them as collaborators and custodians of these beautifully expressive wines. Together, they share a simple, honest vision: grow fruit that reflects the land, and craft wine that reflects the fruit. Grown by the Bartschs, made by the Bulmans—it’s a partnership that just makes sense.
All Emmalene wines come from four carefully tended Adelaide Hills sites each bringing its own personality to the range. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword here; it’s the backbone of their farming. The vineyards are carbon neutral and powered by solar, nurtured with organic compost, permanent cover crops and even winter grazing to keep the ecosystem thriving. In the winery, the approach stays just as thoughtful, with minimal additions, gentle handling and low intervention guiding the process from fruit to bottle. The result? Naturally made, vegan-friendly wines that speak clearly of place, family and a shared commitment to letting the Hills shine.
Another fun thing about their labels, they are designed based off Tim Bartsch’s, the growers, Grans school art project from 1941.
You can learn more on their website.
Note: This wine was sent as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.