House of Arras
CHIEF WINEMAKER
Ed Carr
Creation
1995
Origin
Tasmania
A vision to craft world class sparkling wine led Ed Carr to Tasmania. The cool climate, pristine environment, ancient soils and maritime influence all perfect for crafting world class sparkling wine
Our Vision
The House of Arras story is a testament to the dedication of time, patience and craftsmanship in the pursuit of exceptional sparkling winemaking.
While the story of House of Arras began in 1995, Ed Carr’s vision to craft exceptional Australian sparkling started in 1988 with a visit to the pristine sites of Tasmania. Instantly, Carr saw the potential of the cool climate, maritime influence and ancient soils of the area for producing wines of elegance and longevity.
Arras, meaning rich tapestry, sources fruit from seven regions across Tasmania which have been carefully selected by Carr each for their own individual microclimate and location. Carr’s process of site selection over the years has ensured terroir is showcased in every bottle to result in sparkling wines that exude a true essence of time and place.
Carr draws upon his experience in microbiology to employ a meticulous approach to winemaking with time a key focus of every step of the process from vine to glass. Carr’s process of extended lees ageing has become synonymous with the House of Arras style, setting a new benchmark for Australian sparkling wine each year.
Our Chief Winemaker
Ed Carr’s relentless pursuit for excellence, passion, skill and determination has made him responsible for putting Australian sparkling wine on the global wine map. Ed was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine Championships 2018 for his contribution to the development and success of the sparkling wine industry. He was the only non-champenois winemaker to receive the award, a testament to the world-class credentials of House of Arras wines. Ed was also named Sparkling Winemaker of The Year 2024 at the International Wine Challenge, London. The monumental win for House of Arras, also marks the second time in the competition’s 40-year history that a winemaker outside of Champagne has received the 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."
- Ed Carr
Values
Time in Tirage
Clone Selection
Vineyard Selection
Region Info
House of Arras sources traditional sparkling wine varieties from a tapestry of cool climate vineyards throughout pristine Tasmania, ideal for long, slow and consistent fruit development.
Each sub-region bestows its own nuances of character on the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier fruit.
For over thirty years now, we have taken time to understand the ‘rich tapestry’ that makes the Tasmania terroir, and our wines are a celebration and expression of this relationship.
Today, select vineyards from seven different regions provide a diverse viticultural landscape from which to draw fruit for blending options, ensuring the distinctiveness and consistency of each of the House of Arras wines. These regions include: