Why House of Arras

From a bottle shared over dinner to a release selected for a collector, choosing House of Arras gives the wine a central place in the occasion. The appeal lies in exquisite Tasmanian fruit, the meticulous judgement of Chief Winemaker Ed Carr and years of patient maturation: the elegance and complexity that make these sparkling wines worth spending time with, chosen for the pleasure in the glass as much as the name on the label.

If you have discovered House of Arras through a memorable bottle, a restaurant recommendation or its awards, the collection above brings the next decision into focus. You can return to a favourite, explore a different vintage or select a cuvée that takes the experience further. The reason to choose the house remains consistent. The character changes with each wine.

Australia's most awarded sparkling wine, now Winery of the Year

House of Arras has been named Winery of the Year in the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. That recognition has been accompanied by Sparkling Wine of the Year for the E.J. Carr Late Disgorged 30th Anniversary 2006, awarded 98 points. Together, they recognise both the producer and an individual wine at the most exacting end of the collection. Explore the Halliday awards and featured release for the detail behind that achievement.

That reputation has been earned over decades. James Halliday has described Ed Carr as "by some considerable distance, Australia's greatest sparkling winemaker." Carr has also received the International Wine Challenge's Sparkling Winemaker of the Year award in 2024 and again in 2026. His continued leadership gives the House of Arras story a personal centre: a winemaker whose meticulous work you can follow through the wines themselves.

Whether you are introducing House of Arras to friends or selecting a significant gift, there is real substance behind its standing. Campbell Mattinson has said the house "has never been anything other than superb." That confidence in the producer is a fitting starting point for a purchase. The particular wine gives you the detail to make it your own.

Established in 1995

Since its establishment in 1995, Ed Carr has guided House of Arras with meticulous precision, building the house on Tasmania's cool conditions and the diversity of its growing regions, the raw material for detailed, expressive sparkling wine. That founding ambition still shapes the range today, from the blend of Brut Elite to the maturity of the Museum releases.

Grand Vintage 2017, for example, draws on the Derwent Valley, East Coast, Coal River Valley, Pipers River and Tamar Valley, its rich provenance giving geographical substance to the Tasmanian story, the blend bringing those origins into one wine rather than asking the drinker to understand every vineyard before making a choice.

This is part of the pleasure of buying House of Arras: you can appreciate the wine immediately and return to its detail later (the regions, the blend, the vintage, the time spent in bottle) until a single bottle becomes the centre of an evening, with enough behind it to make the conversation as interesting as the first glass.

Why time matters to the wine you buy

Through traditional-method winemaking and extended lees ageing, known as tirage, House of Arras builds each sparkling wine with meticulous care. This period contributes to the wine's development, building texture and complexity alongside its fruit character. It is an essential part of the house style, and a tangible reason for the differences between releases.

Brut Elite 1801 lists four years on tirage, while the anniversary Late Disgorged 2006 lists sixteen: different winemaking commitments, and different wines to explore. Read the years alongside the tasting notes: the combination tells you more about the purchase than age or price alone.

When you choose a House of Arras release, that maturation has already formed part of its story, so the decision becomes about the character you want at your table rather than the vintage alone. For cellaring beyond purchase, seek advice about the specific wine and your storage conditions rather than assuming the oldest or most expensive bottle is automatically the right one.

Recognition earned vintage after vintage

The collection gives you ways to purchase the wines behind the reputation. Grand Vintage 2017 is one of the releases featured in the house's Wine Advocate selection, offering a way to explore a critically reviewed vintage blend, with the review and producer's notes available to inform your choice.

At the other end, the E.J. Carr Special Release Late Disgorged 2006 marks the house's thirtieth anniversary in a limited edition. Its anniversary significance, extended maturation and Halliday recognition give the release a particular appeal for an enthusiast. Choose it to open on an important occasion, or to give someone who will appreciate the wine's history.

Erin Larkin's Wine Advocate reviews offer further recognition across the range: 97 points for Vintage Rosé 2017, 96 for Blanc de Blancs 2017 and 95 for Grand Vintage 2017. The Museum Release Blanc de Blancs 2006 and anniversary Late Disgorged 2006 have each received 98 points. These are individual wines with their own assessments, giving you several routes from the house's reputation to a bottle you can select.

For further context, explore the Robert Parker Wine Advocate feature and consider the critical assessments alongside the producer's tasting notes.

Fine wine, food and the arts

As the Official Sparkling Wine Partner of the Art Gallery of NSW, House of Arras holds a connection that places the house within Australia's cultural life as well as its wine community, a fitting parallel for a house built on patience and careful craft. Bring that same care to your own table. Select the bottle before planning the menu, allow the wine a place in the conversation and make time to enjoy it through the meal. To feel closer to its Tasmanian home, explore our Pipers River cellar door. The house's story can be experienced in the glass, and in the place behind it.

Find the wine worth bringing home

If you want an introduction to the house with room to explore, begin with Brut Elite. If the appeal lies in a particular harvest and a wine to enjoy through a meal, visit the Vintage Collection. You can follow a familiar cuvée across releases or choose several styles from the same year.

If Chardonnay is what you're after, explore the Blanc de Blancs collection, including Blanc de Blancs 2017. Rosé drinkers should discover the sparkling rosé collection and Brut Elite Rosé 1901. These are useful directions when the person buying or receiving the wine already knows the styles they enjoy.

Collectors should consider the Museum Release Blanc de Blancs 2006. If you want a present with accompanying items, explore Gifting & Entertaining. Each route keeps the purchase connected to a purpose, whether that is discovering a wine, sharing it or marking a personal moment.

Ordering directly from House of Arras

Buying here brings the wines, the house's tasting notes and its cellar door team together. You can compare the releases presented in the collection, read the details of the exact bottle and ask for guidance before ordering. If you have enjoyed a House of Arras wine elsewhere, those details can help you identify it or find the next release to explore.

Orders over $300 qualify for free standard shipping within Australia, subject to delivery restrictions. For questions about a particular order, delivery timing or a wine selection, contact the cellar door team. If House of Arras is becoming a regular part of your collection, explore the E.J. Carr Wine Club and enquire about current membership options.

Questions before purchasing

Can I order House of Arras wine without creating an account?

Yes. The ordering terms allow guest purchases. You can select your wines without first creating an account.

Should I choose a magnum or two standard bottles for dinner?

A 1.5-litre magnum holds the same volume as two 750ml bottles. Choose a magnum if you want one wine as the table's centrepiece, or two bottles if you want the flexibility to open them separately. Check the format in the wine selection before ordering.

Can I arrange a tasting before deciding on a special bottle?

Yes. The cellar door offers guided seated tastings and a private flight featuring E.J. Carr Late Disgorged wines from the Museum and Rare Collection. Book an experience that fits what you want to explore, and confirm any particular release you hope to taste before making travel plans.

Can my order be delivered outside Australia?

Online delivery is currently limited to Australia, with location restrictions. Check the delivery terms before selecting wine for an overseas recipient.

What happens if the exact wine I order is unavailable?

The order terms provide for later supply, an agreed substitute or a refund. If a particular vintage is essential to your purchase, make that clear when discussing any alternative.

Choose your wine from the collection above, or begin with the Vintage Collection to explore the house in greater depth.