Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes from the Green Point vineyard were picked in mid-February, slightly earlier than picking for table wine. This ensured the bright, natural acidity balanced the delightful fruit characters in the final sparkling wine. Several parcels of each varietal were pressed and fermented separately to ensure the unique characteristics of each batch were retained. Each cuvée was then selected for its flavours, balanced structure and palate length – all essential for any Chandon sparkling. Following tirage and secondary fermentation, Chandon Vintage Yarra Valley Cuvée 2016 spent over 30 months ageing on yeast, an essential part of the méthode traditionnelle process. This length of tirage ageing was chosen specifically to retain vibrant, generous fruit flavours alongside subtle biscuit characters and pleasantly creamy texture typical for Chandon sparkling.