Supermarkets may pile ’em high and sell ’em cheap, but Christmas doesn’t have to be all about bottles of cut-price champagne. Sure, it looks impressive, but if you’re throwing a party, the cost of even £10 bottles of bubbly can soon mount up.
There’s also the question of style. Not everyone likes the rich, toasty and sometimes very lean flavours of champagne – especially if you’re using it for cocktails – hence the popularity of prosecco and other fruitier sparkling wines from elsewhere.
And if you’re going to buy one special bottle over the Christmas holidays, think about flying the flag for British fizz – it’s now on a par quality-wise with many champagnes. Go on, you know you should.
Crémant du Jura, Aldi, £7.29, 12% abv
I seem to end up recommending this fresh, creamy fizz from the east of France every year. Great price, great presentation. The only problem is, it’s a bit of a chunky bottle to fit in the fridge door.
Depréville Crémant de Loire, Netto, £6.79, 12% abv
Another crémant (aka French sparkling wine), this time from the latest player on the discounters market. Attractive, generous, soft and moussey, this is slightly drier than prosecco, but sweeter than most sparklers from the Loire. Looks posh, too.
Charles de Fère Brut Premium, Marks & Spencer, two for £12 (normally £9 a bottle), 11.5% abv
An innovative project from French producer Boisset, blending wine from the Charente and La Mancha. This light, fragrant, smartly packaged bottle of fizz is described as a “European community wine”, which should needle any uppity Ukip neighbours.
Grandi Mori Prosecco magnum, Aldi, £11.99, 11% abv
OK, there are oceans of prosecco around, but not all of it is good, or has the extra cachet of coming in a magnum. Proper, pukka prosecco in a great-looking bottle.
Taste the Difference Prosecco, Sainsbury’s, £10 (but often on promotion), 10.5% abv
Apparently Sainsbury’s sells so much of this own-label prosecco, it boasts that a 0.5% reduction in the abv took an extra one million units of alcohol out of circulation. Still a good drink, though.
Cava Heretat El Padruell Brut, Marks & Spencer, on offer at £5.33 (normally £8), 11.5% abv
Cava has fallen out of favour lately, but it has improved hugely in quality and is a better bet if you find prosecco too sweet; it’s often cheaper, too. Witness this rich, full-flavoured example from M&S – at just over a fiver, it’s fantastic value.
Villion Blanc de Blanc Méthode Cap Classique, Viljoensdrift Tanners, £13.70, 12% abv
South Africa is making some great sparkling wine using the champagne method, which is known locally as méthode cap classique. Made 100% from chardonnay, this one is really rich and delicious.
Villa Maria Lightly Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Morrisons, £10.99 (Bakers & Larners of Holt has the 2013 for £9.99), 12.5% abv
If you’re among the 99.9% of the population who likes New Zealand Sauvignon blanc, you’ll love this gently sparkling version from one of the country’s most reliable producers, Villa Maria. (And you might enjoy it even if you aren’t.)
Furleigh Estate Classic Cuvée 2011, The Good Wine Shop £26; £26.50 Noel Young Wines, 12% abv
I visited this Dorset estate at harvest time, and loved their rich, generous, toasty fizz, which you could easily mistake for champagne. Their rosé is lovely, too.
Ambriel Rosé Brut, Lea & Sandeman, £28.95 (or £26.95 if you buy a case), 12% abv
A super-pretty, pale salmon-coloured sparkler with a delicate strawberry flavour. Perfect with seafood or, if you’re celebrating Christmas à deux, with smoked salmon and pink peppercorns.
Comments (…)
Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion