About Idée Fixe

Idée Fixe is a dedicated Blanc de Blancs house. Making méthode traditionnelle wines has been a quiet obsession of Vasse Felix for decades. This fixation led to the serendipitous discovery of a mysterious clone of Chardonnay, grown in the deep south of Margaret River, upon rare quartz based soils. Here, the Southern Ocean brings persistent cloud and biting cold winds. The fully-equipped méthode tranditionelle winemaking facility was established in 2018 to complete every process from grape to final labelling within the walls of the house and is one of only a handful of its kind in Australia. Margaret River Blanc de Blancs is our idée fixe.

Idée Fixe.

Noun, [ee-dey feeks], French.

A fixed idea. Obsession.

Our History

1980s

The obsession began at Vasse Felix when Winemaker David Gregg fulfilled his lifelong dream and persistent idea to create a top sparkling wine in Margaret River. “The new Vasse Felix Brut is an outstanding Australian sparkling wine made from the traditional combination… the first release is non-vintage and the base wines go back to 1984… The wine has an excellent yeasty nose and a full creamy mousse.” Paul Murray, The West Australian, 1989.

Early 1990s

Late 1990s

2000s

The Extra Brut is renamed Silver Knight and a short-lived (but very popular) Sparkling Shiraz called Black Knight also makes its debut. The names are in honour of Melbourne Cup winning horses owned by the Holmes à Court Family, who acquired Vasse Felix from David Gregg in 1987.

2010s

Sparkling winemaking at Vasse Felix changes forever when a mysterious block of Chardonnay is discovered in the estate’s southern vineyard in Karridale. The block appears suitable for Blanc de Blancs base wine, and the first experimental vintage is made in 2012. The obsession continues to grow over this decade, and Idée Fixe is born.

2020

A dedicated sparkling wine house is designed and built. The facilities provide all of the equipment and temperature controlled cellars to dedicate serious focus to making distinctive Margaret River Blanc de Blancs. The inaugural Idée Fixe Premier Brut is released in 2020, made with fruit from 2018.