Australian family wine group linking Brown Brothers Prosecco, Innocent Bystander Chardonnay and Pirie traditional method sparkling.
The producer
Brown Family Wine Group links Brown Brothers Prosecco with Innocent Bystander Chardonnay and Pirie Traditional Method sparkling. Brown Brothers Prosecco is the number one Australian Prosecco brand. Pirie is a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend from the Tamar Valley, made with a second fermentation in the bottle and two years on lees before disgorgement. Innocent Bystander Chardonnay brings fresh pear, lemon, poached apple, florals and marzipan to a crisp, dry palate with pithy texture.
Known for
Australian Prosecco and traditional method sparkling
Notable facts
Brown Brothers Prosecco is the number one Australian Prosecco brand.
Pirie Traditional Method is a 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir blend from the Tamar Valley.
Pirie Traditional Method undergoes second fermentation in the bottle and spends two years on lees before disgorgement.
Innocent Bystander Chardonnay is crisp and dry, with a stone fruit core and pithy texture.
The story
The Old Barn And The Sisters
John Francis Brown established Brown Brothers in 1889 from vines planted in 1885. The first vintage was produced in the Old Barn at Milawa, which still stands on the property. Brown Brothers remains owned and operated by his descendants. The family line expanded through subsequent generations before sisters Katherine, Caroline and Emma took leadership in the fourth generation. Eight of the ten family members in that generation are female.
From the atlas
Brown Family Wine Group
An Australian family wine group linking Brown Brothers Prosecco with Innocent Bystander Chardonnay and Pirie traditional method sparkling.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Producer
Brown Family Wine Group
Country
Australia
Original home
Milawa, Victoria
White wines
Brown & Co Chardonnay, Naturally Innocent Field Blend and Innocent Bystander Chardonnay
Sparkling wines
Brown Brothers Prosecco and Pirie Traditional Method
The Producer
Brown Brothers Prosecco is the number one Australian Prosecco brand. Brown Family Wine Group carries the Brown Brothers name alongside Brown & Co Chardonnay, Naturally Innocent Field Blend, Innocent Bystander Chardonnay and Pirie Traditional Method. John Francis Brown established Brown Brothers in 1889 from vines planted in 1885, and the business remains owned and operated by his descendants.
Place
Milawa in Victoria is the place attached to Brown Brothers' founding. Pirie Traditional Method is sourced from the Tamar Valley. Milawa marks the family origin; Tamar Valley marks the sparkling fruit source.
Wines
The still white range includes Brown & Co Chardonnay 2024, Naturally Innocent Field Blend 2023 and Innocent Bystander Chardonnay 2024. The sparkling range includes Brown Brothers Prosecco and Pirie Traditional Method. Pirie is a bottle fermented sparkling wine made from 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir.
Traditional method means a second fermentation in the bottle, followed by contact with lees before disgorgement. Pirie spends two years on lees before disgorgement. Lees are yeast sediment left after fermentation; contact with them can add toast and nut notes to sparkling wine.
The Pirie Vintage 2021 release layers lemon meringue and sea spray with toasty brioche and subtle nutty cashew notes. Pirie's Traditional Method without a vintage is fresh as a daisy, with a long palate. Innocent Bystander Chardonnay opens with fresh pear, lemon, poached apple, florals and marzipan. It is crisp and dry, with a stone fruit core and pithy texture.
Final Word
The Brown family's fourth generation includes eight female members among ten family members.