The Flying Winemaker: Australia’s Best Prosecco!

What happens when a winemaking team sets out to win some awards? The Flying Winemaker (TFW) Prosecco NV wins Best Prosecco in its class at the prestigious Australian Sparkling Wine Show 2024.

And honestly, we can see why.

Lean, pristine, refreshing, and floral, this Australian sparkling wine is all about energy and freshness. The wine was also aged in the bottle for eight months before release, adding extra complexity and development without losing its lively character.

Why The Flying Winemaker Prosecco Stands Out

TFW’s award-winning Prosecco is made from 100% Glera from a single vineyard in Victoria’s King Valley.

According to TFW Australia and New Zealand Oenologist Lilian Carter, the region’s cool conditions are key. Cooler temperatures allow the grapes to ripen slowly while retaining their naturally bright acidity — provided they are harvested at precisely the right moment.

That natural acidity gives the wine its refreshing backbone and helps create the light, energetic style TFW is looking for.

One Vintage, NV Style

Interestingly, although the wine comes entirely from the 2023 harvest, it is presented in an NV—or non-vintage—style.

The idea is consistency: a house style that can be recognised year after year. Achieving that consistency requires careful vineyard management and close attention to the fruit from vineyard to winery.

For TFW, the goal is straightforward: lightness, freshness and energy, supported by a fine, persistent bead.

Charmat Method: Freshness Over Heaviness

Unlike Champagne, which traditionally undergoes its secondary fermentation in bottle, TFW Prosecco is made using the Charmat method, where the secondary fermentation takes place in tank.

The result? A sparkling wine that focuses on freshness and fruit rather than heavy yeasty or bready characters.

It also makes the wine particularly versatile. Eddie McDougall notes that its fresh, dry finish makes it an excellent choice for spritzers, especially for drinkers who prefer a drier style of sparkling wine.

Is Sparkling Wine Harder to Make?

Secondary fermentation might sound like the point where things could get unpredictable, but experience and a strong understanding of the base wine make the process much more manageable.

As Lilian explains, the base wine provides important clues about how the secondary fermentation will develop. Winemaking becomes a balance of chemistry, experience and precision — including managing how the bubbles remain in suspension.

From Prosecco to Charmat Blanc

Here’s an interesting twist.

Many consumers naturally associate the word Prosecco with Italy. Yet the term has historically been used in Australia in connection with Charmat-method sparkling wine.

TFW is taking things a step further.

For its sparkling Glera on export markets, the 2024 vintage is being introduced under a new name: Charmat Blanc.

A shipment is already heading to Singapore, with Glera clearly stated on the back label. Could Charmat Blanc eventually become a recognisable category in its own right?

Only time will tell.

For now, one thing is clear: The Flying Winemaker has put Australian Glera firmly in the spotlight.

The Award-Winning Formula

The Bottom Line

TFW’s Best Prosecco win is more than an award. It demonstrates what cool-climate Australian Glera can deliver: bright natural acidity, delicate aromatics, persistent bubbles and a refreshingly dry finish.

It is modern Australian sparkling wine with plenty of personality — and perhaps the beginning of a new conversation around Charmat Blanc.

FAQs

What makes The Flying Winemaker’s Prosecco Australia’s Best Prosecco?

The Flying Winemaker Prosecco NV was named Best Prosecco at the 2024 Australian Sparkling Wine Show. Made from 100% Glera grown in a single King Valley vineyard, it combines cool-climate acidity, fine bubbles, floral aromas and a fresh, dry finish through the Charmat method.

What grape is used in TFW Prosecco?

TFW Prosecco is made from 100% Glera, the grape traditionally associated with Prosecco.

Where is The Flying Winemaker Prosecco made?

The wine is made from grapes grown in a single vineyard in Victoria’s King Valley, a cool-climate Australian wine region.

What is the Charmat method?

The Charmat method is a sparkling-wine production technique in which the wine undergoes its secondary fermentation in a pressurised tank rather than in individual bottles.

Is Australian Prosecco from Italy?

No. TFW’s sparkling wine is Australian-made using Glera grapes. TFW is also introducing the name Charmat Blanc for its sparkling Glera on export markets.

Is TFW Prosecco sweet?

TFW’s Prosecco is notably fresh and dry, with a drier finish than many Italian Prosecco styles, making it particularly suitable for spritzers and food pairing.

What food pairs with TFW Prosecco?

Its acidity, freshness, and dry finish make it versatile with salty snacks, seafood, fried foods, light Asian dishes, and spicy cuisine.