Jansz Tasmania

Brand Description

The name Jansz pays homage to Tasmania’s namesake, the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman who first sighted the island in 1642. In fact, when it was established in 1975, the Jansz vineyard was originally named after Tasman’s ship, the Heemskerk. In 1986, esteemed Champagne house - Louis Roederer partnered with the owners of Heemskerk Wines to produce Tasmania’s first premium vintage sparkling wine. They saw the similarities between the climate here and the famous wine region of their homeland. In 1997, the Hill-Smith family purchased the vineyard and began the journey that has seen Jansz Tasmania become the most highly regarded sparkling wine house in Australia.

Location of Vineyard

The Jansz Tasmania vineyard sits to the northeast of the island state within the Pipers River region of the Tamar Valley. This cool little corner is colloquially known as ‘Sparkling Tasmania’. Temperatures here are moderated by close proximity to Bass Strait. The ocean breezes keep the temperature up during winter – minimising risk of frost, and down in summer – allowing our grapes to ripen slowly and develop intense, delicate and refined flavours. Resting on a bed of pure, red, free-draining basalt soils, the Jansz vineyard truly is the perfect site to grow grapes for world-class sparkling wines. 

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

The climatic conditions of the Jansz vineyard rival the famed French wine region of Champagne. In fact, it was originally with French contribution that Jansz became Tasmania’s first sparkling made using the traditional Méthode. Today we call it, Méthode Tasmanoise. It’s the essence of a partnership between the environment and our winemaker. Just as the cool Tasmanian climate creates spectacular beauty in nature, it is also instrumental in the creation of art in bottles. At Jansz, our focus is on the vineyard. We believe the vineyard is where the wine is born. Every day during the growing  season, our winemaker walks the vines and tastes the grapes to gain an intimate understanding of each of our twenty three one-hectare blocks. This experience informs every decision we make from picking to fermenting. Our focus on the vineyard has been instrumental in establishing Jansz Tasmania as Australia’s sparkling wine specialist.

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Winery Profile
Owner: Hill-Smith Family
Winemaker: Teresa Heuzenroeder / Viticulturist: Jennifer Doyle
Founded: 1975
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Acclaim
A fresh and lifted nose is complete with jasmine, a little marzipan, meringue, lemon pith, lime blossom and a crushed limestone crisp minerality. The mousse is fine and creamy yet a little reserved after pouring with abundant fizz. Plenty of freshness. A great, easy-drinking aperitif style NV hovering in a delicate citrus zone. Medium finish with acidity well integrated, this is an ideal splash for a hot Aussie afternoon. The slightest popcorn kernel note on the finish. With a minimum of 18 months on lees, fruit from multiple vineyard regions within Tasmania and full malo, this NV is a well-crafted iteration. — acclaim for N/V Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvée from Decanter, Mar 2025
Some delightful toasty notes on the nose: lemon tart shell, sourdough, a little gunflint, green spice, lemon zest, and that classic Pipers River oyster shell. The palate has a lovely, pillowy and fine opulence with a creamy mouthfeel and pithy texture. A little sweetness, plenty of Meyer lemon and some lemon meringue pie notes. Acidity holds a fine line of tension throughout, with the final result walking a line of voluminous freshness. A Chardonnay dominant blend with each parcel of fruit separately vinified prior to blending and 39 months on lees. Plenty of pleasure here and a lifted finish that echoes with electricity. — acclaim for 2020 Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée from Decanter, Mar 2025
Plenty of effervescence in the glass, with a nose fuelled by watermelon pith, freeze-dried strawberries, oatcake, a little sourdough, a skittering of fried herbs, peach skin, and a freshly crushed seashell note. All rather inviting. There’s succulent flesh on the palate, though this is not an opulent wine; it‘s one of freshness with crisp and crunch, yet an underlying fruit weight that holds attention. Fine chalky phenolics slip over the palate, held in place with a line of silvery acidity. What follows is shoulder-dropping joy and a reminder of the simple pleasures in life. A cracking traditional method wine at its price point. Good length too. 18 months tirage in this Pinot Noir dominant blend. — acclaim for N/V Jansz Tasmania Premium Rosé from Decanter, Mar 2025
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