Tasmanian Sparkling winemaker Ed Carr bubbles to top at the International Wine Challenge

Tasmania’s Ed Carr become only the second winemaker to break France Champagne’s dominance of a prestigious, global sparkling wine award this weekend. Here’s how it happened.

House of Arras winemaker Ed Carr.

Tasmania’s viticulture industry took its place in the global spotlight on Wednesday, as Ed Carr became the first ever Australian to be named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge.

The achievement for the House of Arras chief winemaker, who was on hand to accept the award at a ceremony held at The Oval in London, marked just the second time that a winemaker outside France’s Champagne region had received the award in the competition’s 40-year history.

House of Arras chief winemaker Ed Carr has won the IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year. Picture: Supplied

“I’m incredibly honoured to be named this year’s Sparkling Winemaker of the Year,” Carr said.

“It’s a challenge to describe the feeling, but I’m proud to be recognised among my peers for such a significant international award.

“Everything we do at House of Arras is based on our single-minded approach to crafting exceptional sparkling wine that speaks to Tasmania’s cool climate and ancient soils and is equal to the world’s best.

“This endorsement from one of the world’s most respected wine competitions is a testament to this mission, and I’m thrilled to share this award with the team.

“2024 has been an outstanding year on the awards front, and I’m honoured to add this recent recognition from the International Wine Challenge to the mantle.”

Ed Carr. Picture: Supplied

The IWC is recognised as one of the world’s most rigorous wine competitions, judged by more than 500 experts from more than 38 different countries.

It was the second time Carr had been named a finalist for the IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year title, having also been nominated in 2022.

In 2018, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships for his contribution to the development and success of the sparkling wine industry.

Wine Tasmania chief executive, Sheralee Davies, hailed Carr’s win as an incredible achievement, and further proof the state could match it with any region in the world.

“It’s an award that the whole Tasmanian wine community is celebrating with Ed, as it really helps grow global recognition of the island’s exceptional wines,” Ms Davies said.

“We have much admiration for our wine friends in Champagne, but we also love our sparkling wines being held up alongside, or above, this benchmark wine region.

“We have no doubt that our sparkling wines are some of the best on the planet.”

Originally published as Tasmanian Sparkling winemaker Ed Carr bubbles to top at the International Wine Challenge