Empire of Dirt Venom Cloudy Sparkling 2021 from Geelong’s Bellarine Peninsula is a lightly cloudy, bottle‑fermented fizz that leans into texture and refreshment, blending Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay into a quirky, ultra‑drinkable sparkling. Empire of Dirt Venom Cloudy Sparkling completes ferment in bottle, leaving a veil of yeast in suspension that adds savoury nuance and a gently creamy edge without feeling heavy.

In the glass you’re looking at a hazy, pale straw‑blush pour with a lively bead and aromas of lemon zest, green apple, strawberry sherbet and crunchy pear, layered with soft brioche and a faint, leesy, cloudy‑cider vibe. The palate is light‑bodied, tangy and mouth‑watering, driven by bright acidity and citrus‑red‑fruit zip, the retained yeast giving a soft, textural pucker that keeps each sip of Venom Cloudy Sparkling 2021 seriously moreish straight from the fridge.

Food‑wise, Empire of Dirt Venom Cloudy Sparkling 2021 is bang‑on with fried chicken, fish and chips, prawn tacos or salt‑and‑pepper squid, where its zippy acidity and gentle savoury lees bite slice through crunch and salt. It’s equally fun with charcuterie, soft cheeses, picnic snacks or a simple bowl of hot chips, making it a brilliant, unfussy party bottle when you want something playful, textural and just a bit left‑of‑centre.