Milestone birthdays can be scary. It’s generally agreed that any number ending in a 0 is worth celebrating, but certain numbers elicit more joy than others. Turning 40 can bring up a mix of emotions: excitement for some, existential crises for others, but for Jansz Tasmania, Australia’s leader in sparkling wine, hitting 40 is only the beginning.
Family-owned from the start, Jansz Tasmania is one of Australia’s great wine success stories, but to understand the house’s reputation, you have to understand how it came to be. Tasmania possesses a unique microclimate, wherein oceanic winds and mineral rich, free-draining basalt soils create a nurturing environment for the cultivation of grapes. Back in 1986, the storied champagne house, Louis Roederer, saw Tasmania’s potential for grape growing and partnered with local winemaker, Heemskerk Wines, to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines in Pipers River. The Hill-Smith family saw the potential too, and in 1998 purchased the property with the vision to create Australia’s preeminent sparkling wine house. 40 years down the line, their vision is realised, but they’re far from resting on their laurels.
From the beginning, Jansz Tasmania has made its Premium Cuvée NV according to Méthode Champanoise — the traditional method of making sparkling wine developed in France’s Champagne region. In the process, they coined a method a little closer to home: Méthode Tasmanoise. A nod to both the house’s practice of making Premium Cuvée NV and the rugged, wild spirit of Tasmania, Méthode Tasmanoise describes the land and the people that lie at the heart of Jansz Tasmania.
One of those people is Teresa Heuzenroeder, Jansz Tasmania’s winemaker who has over 30 years’ experience crafting wines at some of the country’s most renowned labels. Specialising in sparkling and white wine, Heuzenroeder’s technical knowledge and palette is responsible for Jansz Tasmania’s distinguishable flavour — something the house will continue to hone over the next 40 years.
To celebrate the milestone, Jansz Tasmania has partnered with Jess Bonde, a Tasmanian-born photographer, to create a Premium Cuvée gift box illustrated with striking photos taken by Bonde on an expedition across Tasmania’s rugged landscape — because you can’t celebrate a 40th without a good gift.
The gift box will be available from the 1st of October 2026 at jansz.com.au and in fine wine retail stores.
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