2024 In Praise of Shadows Vox Pop Sparkling Pinot Noir – 93 Points

93 POINTS HALLIDAY! A BRILLIANT SINGLE-VINEYARD SPARKLING PINOT NOIR FROM THE ADELAIDE HILLS – JUST $31.50!

93 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

2024 In Praise of Shadows ‘Vox Pop’ Sparkling Pinot Noir – Adelaide Hills, South Australia

RRP $31.50 per bottle

Now this is one of those wines that delivers an extraordinary amount of enjoyment for the money!

Forget ordinary sparkling wine.

Forget the idea that great bubbles need to come with a ridiculous price tag.

And forget the misconception that Australian sparkling wine is all about Chardonnay and traditional Champagne-style blends.

The 2024 In Praise of Shadows Vox Pop is something wonderfully different.

A single-vineyard sparkling Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills.

A gorgeous, vibrant pink colour.

Beautiful strawberries-and-cream characters.

Fresh mandarin and citrus.

A fine, delicate bead.

And a remarkably refreshing, dry finish.

93 POINTS HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION!

JUST $31.50 A BOTTLE!

This is seriously delicious sparkling wine, with considerably more character and complexity than you might expect at this price.

In Praise of Shadows – A Fascinating Independent South Australian Producer

Behind In Praise of Shadows is founder and winemaker Brett Trewartha.

Based in McLaren Vale, Brett has developed a distinctive range of wines that celebrates individuality, thoughtful winemaking and the pleasure of drinking something genuinely interesting.

The winery's name comes from In Praise of Shadows, the celebrated essay by Japanese author Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.

The essay explores the beauty found in subtlety, contrast and the things that are not immediately obvious.

It's a fascinating inspiration for a winery.

And it reflects Brett's approach to wine.

Rather than chasing power or exaggerated flavours, the focus is on balance, texture, elegance and individuality.

The estate produces an exciting collection of wines from McLaren Vale and surrounding South Australian regions.

But Vox Pop is particularly interesting because it showcases the remarkable potential of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir in sparkling form.

An independent winemaker with a distinctive philosophy, making a sparkling wine full of personality.

Vox Pop – The Voice of the People

The name Vox Pop comes from the Latin expression vox populi, meaning “the voice of the people.”

And it's a wonderfully appropriate name.

This is a wine made to be enjoyed.

Not analysed endlessly.

Not saved for some distant special occasion.

And certainly not reserved for people who think sparkling wine has to be expensive.

It's a bottle for everyone who appreciates beautiful fruit, refreshing bubbles and genuinely delicious drinking.

A sparkling wine that brings people together.

And at $31.50, it does so without breaking the bank.

Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills

One of the most impressive things about Vox Pop is its vineyard origin.

The 2024 wine comes from the Amadio vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.

Pinot Noir is one of the great cool-climate varieties.

It produces wines with delicate red-fruit aromas, freshness, finesse and wonderful natural acidity.

And the Adelaide Hills is particularly well suited to the grape.

The region's elevated vineyards and cool growing conditions help preserve the acidity essential to fine sparkling wine.

For Vox Pop, Pinot Noir brings a beautiful combination of fruit generosity and elegance.

Strawberries.

Raspberries.

Red apple.

Subtle floral notes.

And a lovely savoury complexity.

This is the sort of fruit that makes sparkling rosé so irresistibly delicious.

A Beautifully Pink Sparkling Pinot Noir

One of the first things you'll notice about Vox Pop is its colour.

This is not a completely colourless Blanc de Noirs.

It's a vibrant, beautiful pink sparkling wine.

The colour immediately hints at the wine's delicious red-fruit personality.

But don't confuse the colour with sweetness.

This is a refreshingly dry sparkling wine.

The palate is vibrant and beautifully balanced.

The fruit is generous without becoming heavy.

And the acidity gives the wine a wonderfully refreshing finish.

A serious sparkling wine that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Charmat Method – With Extra Time on Lees

What makes Vox Pop particularly interesting is the way it's produced.

The wine is made using the Charmat method, where the sparkling fermentation takes place in a pressurised tank.

This helps preserve the bright, fresh fruit characters of Pinot Noir.

But Brett takes the wine beyond a simple fruit-driven sparkling style.

Vox Pop receives extended time on its lees.

This contributes additional texture and complexity.

The result is a sparkling wine with beautifully fresh fruit, but also subtle savoury characters.

Think sourdough.

Delicate pastry.

And a gentle creamy texture.

It's a wonderful combination of bright, youthful fruit and more sophisticated sparkling-wine complexity.

Strawberries and Cream, Mandarin, Sourdough and Beautiful Bubbles

Now this is where Vox Pop becomes particularly irresistible.

The aromas are immediately inviting.

Think freshly picked strawberries.

Ripe red berries.

A little raspberry.

And a beautiful strawberries-and-cream character.

Then come the citrus notes.

Fresh mandarin.

Orange zest.

And a wonderfully refreshing lift.

As the wine opens, more complex characters begin to emerge.

A touch of sourdough.

Delicate berry pastry.

Subtle musk.

And a lovely mineral edge.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully dry.

The bubbles are fine and lively.

The fruit is bright and expressive.

And the acidity provides wonderful freshness.

The finish is clean, energetic and delightfully persistent.

This is sparkling Pinot Noir with genuine texture, beautiful balance and an enormous amount of charm.

93 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

93 POINTS FOR JUST $31.50!

That is precisely the sort of quality-to-price relationship we love finding at Liquid Vibe.

A Brilliant Alternative to Everyday Prosecco

There are plenty of delicious Proseccos available for around $25–$35.

But Vox Pop offers something completely different.

Instead of the apple, pear and floral characters typically associated with Glera-based Prosecco, this wine delivers the personality of Pinot Noir.

Fresh strawberries.

Red berries.

Mandarin.

Subtle savoury complexity.

And a more textural palate.

It's still wonderfully refreshing.

Still beautifully approachable.

And still perfect for entertaining.

But there's an additional dimension of flavour that makes it particularly interesting.

If you're looking to explore something beyond your usual sparkling wine, this is an absolute beauty.

Extraordinary with Food

One of the things we particularly love about sparkling Pinot Noir is its versatility at the table.

The red-fruit character, refreshing acidity and fine bubbles make Vox Pop a magnificent food wine.

Fresh Oysters

The bright acidity and delicate citrus notes work beautifully with freshly shucked oysters.

Kingfish Sashimi

A lovely combination with citrus-dressed kingfish.

Pan-Seared Scallops

The wine's creamy texture and delicate fruit complement the sweetness of scallops.

Smoked Salmon

The refreshing bubbles cut through the richness of smoked fish.

Prawns and Calamari

Excellent with fresh prawns or lightly fried calamari.

Prosciutto and Antipasto

The subtle red-fruit character is a wonderful match for Italian cured meats.

Roast Chicken

Particularly good with lemon, herbs and a light roasting jus.

Soft Cheeses

Beautiful with Brie, Camembert and fresh goat's cheese.

And for something particularly enjoyable, serve Vox Pop with fresh strawberries, soft cheese and a selection of savoury snacks.

A wonderful sparkling wine for long lunches and relaxed entertaining.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we're always looking for wines that combine individuality, quality and genuinely impressive value.

And the 2024 Vox Pop ticks every box.

First, there is the producer.

IN PRAISE OF SHADOWS – ONE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S MOST INTERESTING INDEPENDENT WINE LABELS.

Then there is the winemaker.

BRETT TREWARTHA – A WINEMAKER WITH A DISTINCTIVE APPROACH TO WINE.

Then there is the vineyard.

SINGLE-VINEYARD PINOT NOIR FROM THE AMADIO VINEYARD IN THE ADELAIDE HILLS.

Then there is the style.

BEAUTIFULLY PINK, REFRESHINGLY DRY AND PACKED WITH DELICIOUS RED FRUIT.

Then there is the winemaking.

CHARMAT-METHOD SPARKLING WITH EXTENDED LEES AGEING FOR ADDITIONAL TEXTURE.

Then there is the recognition.

93 POINTS HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $31.50 A BOTTLE!

This is exactly the sort of sparkling wine we love recommending.

It's different.

It's delicious.

It's beautifully made.

And it delivers an extraordinary amount of drinking pleasure for the money.

93 POINTS HALLIDAY. SINGLE-VINEYARD ADELAIDE HILLS PINOT NOIR. STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM. FINE BUBBLES. JUST $31.50.

2024 In Praise of Shadows Vox Pop – a seriously exciting sparkling wine and outstanding value at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: In Praise of Shadows

• Wine: Vox Pop Sparkling Pinot Noir

• Vintage: 2024

• Wine Region: Adelaide Hills, South Australia

• Producer Location: McLaren Vale, South Australia

• Founder and Winemaker: Brett Trewartha

• Grape Variety: Pinot Noir

• Vineyard: Amadio Vineyard

• Style: Dry Sparkling Rosé

• Colour: Vibrant pink

• Sparkling Method: Charmat / tank fermentation

• Lees Ageing: Extended lees contact

• Aromas: Strawberry, red berries, mandarin, berry pastry and subtle musk

• Palate: Dry, fresh, fine bubbles, creamy texture and refreshing acidity

• Alcohol: 12% according to Halliday Wine Companion

• Closure: Agglomerate cork

• Critic Score: 93 Points – Halliday Wine Companion

• RRP: $31.50 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, kingfish, scallops, smoked salmon, prawns, antipasto and soft cheeses

• Serving Temperature: 7–9°C

• Drinking Style: Delicious now, especially for its fresh fruit and vibrant character