dArenberg to release Dadd sparkling wine

McLaren Vale producer d’Arenberg is to release a sparkling wine called Dadd, chief winemaker Chester Osborn has revealed to the drinks business.

Speaking exclusively to db at the London International Wine Fair yesterday (Wednesday 18 May), Osborn said the project has been one hundred years in the making.

“Four generations of dads have culminated in this project," he said. “It has taken us a century to produce a high end sparkling wine from high altitude vineyards in the Adelaide Hills – the highest altitude in fact. It will be coming out in three months and I’m really excited about it.”

“We wanted to call it Dadd with a double ‘d’ because there are so many of us”, says Osborn.

The Dadd label will carry the signature d’Arenberg red sash, which bears are striking resemblance to a Champagne house with a similarly familial name.

“Dadd will feature the red sash because all of our wines have it – it’s been with us for sixty years,” said Osborn.

Known for his quirky wine names, Obsorn was busy promoting his new sweet wine – Botryotinia Fuckeliana, at the fair.

“It’s named after a species of mould that attacks grape and makes noble rot, so it’s an official name. We get quite a few people mispronouncing it, and some people leave off the ‘u’ when they write about it so it doesn’t ruffle any feathers,” Osborn admitted.

To see the full video interview with Chester Osborn, click here

Lucy Shaw, 19.05.2011