The Riddling process in making Sparkling Wine

Making sparkling wine is widely considered one of the most complex processes in winemaking, with each step playing a crucial role in achieving clarity, texture, and finesse.

One of the most fascinating stages is riddling — the process of carefully moving the yeast lees that have settled in the bottle during ageing. Over weeks or even months, the bottles are gradually rotated and tilted, guiding the sediment down into the neck of the bottle so it can be cleanly removed, leaving the wine bright and crystal clear.

We caught up with Jasper Marais from Riversdale Estate in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, who walks us through this intricate process and shows just how much precision and care goes into every bottle of sparkling wine.

It’s a perfect example of the craftsmanship behind the Traditional Method — where time, patience, and technique all come together to create something truly special.