The Hill-Smith Family started the Y series range of wines way back in 2002. Now I don’t know which wines were part of the inaugural release but it now numbers anything up to 15 wines, always great wines and always great value. I do like their motto, “there’s always been—and always will be—a Y for every occasion.” There are now three sparkling wines that sit perfectly as part of that range too.

Okay, so Christmas and New Year celebrations have come and gone but there are plenty of other occasions to celebrate with family and friends and, I reckon we should be celebrating something every day.

Also, things are pretty tight when it comes to people having spare cash for some of the simple pleasures in life…like a nice sparkling wine. These sparkling releases sit very nicely at $16 a bottle (and it is not uncommon to see the Y Series wines discounted) so well priced to celebrate the end of the working week, to enjoy while reading a book or, just simply ‘Y’ not. There’s now a Y Sparkling for every occasion.

Y Series Wines Website

Region: South Australia    Price: $16 each     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Hill- Smith Family Estates

Prosecco

One of two new additions to the Y Series range, this bargain priced Prosecco hits the spot very nicely indeed. The lovely fine bubbles form a cover to the wine but still allow slight floral and citrus aromas to escape from the glass. It’s light and refreshing on the palate while still providing a good amount of flavour thanks to green apple characteristics shining through along with some lemon notes. Here is your ideal, mid-afternoon, party starter.

Lighter Cuvée

This may be light on alcohol (only 7%) and light on calories (50 per 100ml serve) but it is not light on anything else. I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised with this Lighter Cuvée both aromatically and flavour wise. What the aromas offered up, was what I tasted plenty of on the palate. Citrus characters don’t hold back along with a slight pear note too. There is a delicate textural feel across the palate that takes nothing away from the lovely, attractive, ‘fizz factor’ of this sparkling.

Cuvée

The second of the new sparklings in the ‘Y’ range, this Cuvée has citrus and bready aromas and had no trouble making their way through the fine bead of bubbles that formed when it was poured. It has a good amount of those aromatic characteristics on the palate too giving it that refreshingly sparkling mouthfeel you would expect. As much as I enjoyed this sparkling too, you may be surprised to read that I don’t think it has the same level of flavour (marginally) as the Lighter Cuvée. Regardless of that, I think it is going to develop its own fan base.