Aphelion Wines, run by winemaker Rob Mack and Louise Rhodes, specialises in small‑batch wines that reflect place. For their 2021 Welkin Sparkling they source Chenin Blanc from a single vineyard in the cool Kuitpo district of the Adelaide Hills.

Grapes are gently pressed and the juice ferments in neutral French oak barriques, then the base wine rests on its lees for about five months. Secondary fermentation occurs in a pressurised tank via the Charmat method, and the wine is bottled in August 2021 with ABV 11.5% and brut‑range sugar levels.

Production was limited to 447 dozen. Aromas of red apple, lemon curd and citrus blossom lead to a crisp, lively palate; the mousse is delicate, and the finish is long and refreshing with a hint of nuttiness from lees contact.