WE could all be toasting more than just Christmas this festive season if England go deep in the World Cup – so best get the bubbles in now.
And there are plenty of bargain Champagne alternatives for households battling the cost of living crisis.
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For a Champagne feel on a lemonade budget, avoid sweeter Italian Prosecco and opt for traditional-method dry sparklers made the same way as the real deal, like Spanish Cava or cheaper French fizz substitute Crémant.
Wine expert Helena Nicklin from thethreedrinkers.com, suggests bubbles for under a tenner that will put some pop into your party, with marks out of five.
Arestel Cava, £5.49, lidl.co.uk – 4
★★★★☆
SPANISH sparkling wine Cava’s popularity is on the rise again for go-to bargain bubbles as people looking for a lower price tag fall back in love with its complex, savoury, well-priced notes.
Lidl’s Arestel is starting to get a cult following thanks to the exceptional quality it offers in the flute at an extremely low cost.
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Fresh, creamy and beautifully balanced, this is a quality choice that punches well above its humble price.
The bottle’s styling is pretty smart, too.
Sainsbury’s Cava Brut, £5.85, sainsburys.co.uk
★★★★★
ANOTHER fantastic-value Cava, with notes of tangy, earthy pineapple and toast.
Nicely aged, there is also a hint of apple.
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This is a serious foodie sparkler for not a lot of your hard-earned, so worth stocking up on ahead of planned celebrations.
It is excellent value either with food or on its own and will save you a fortune compared to a bottle of “proper” champers, without leaving you with a flat feeling.
Crémant de Loire, £8.49, Lidl (only in stores)
★★★★★
ONE of the pricier buys in my selection but still a bargain for real French bubbles made using exactly the same method as champers.
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Available in store, it is a cracking Crémant – brilliantly balanced and refreshing, with a honeyed, smoked lemon-rind vibe.
Goes with everything from smoked salmon to hard cheese, or delicious on its own as an aperitif.
On a par with well-known offerings from the Champagne region of France, and at a knock- out price.
Specially Selected Pignoletto, £7.49, Aldi
★★★☆☆
NOT heard of the Pignoletto grape?
It is worth a try if you like Prosecco but want some-thing less sweet and a bit bolder to stand in for Champagne.
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Hailing from the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, this tipple has peachy, nutty and fruity notes and would be perfect with turkey or as a crowd pleaser to make Bucks Fizz with for a party.
Radacini Blanc de Noirs Brut, £7, morrisons.co.uk
★★★☆☆
HERE is your slightly left-field seasonal sparkling wine of choice – a sparkling and stylish Cabernet Sauvignon.
This Moldovan bubbly is something slightly different and a real talking-point fizz.
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It delivers easy-drinking white bubbles yet is made with black grapes.
Very creamy and interesting on the palate, with some ever-so-subtle notes of ripe, red fruit.
Not quite as complex to the tastebuds as a Cava or Crémant but top value, quirky and delicious.
Tesco Finest 1531 Blanquette de Limoux, £9.50, tesco.com
★★★★☆
BLANQUETTE, originally made by Benedictine monks, predates Champagne as the very first traditional-method French sparkler.
It offers a completely different flavour profile because it is made with the French Mauzac and Chenin grapes, blended and aged for 12 months.
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Think lemon meringue pie in sparkling form.
Rather lovely and just a little bit different.
Would go beautifully with seafood, if you are maybe planning to serve up a round of prawn cocktails on Christmas Day.
Crémant du Jura, £8.99, Aldi
★★★★★
THIS is a favourite with us wine experts – a charming Champagne stand-in that is excellent value.
Made mostly with Chardonnay grapes, it is supple and soft, with notes of ripe melon and baked apple and a touch of spice.
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Vintage, too, which makes its affordability even more impressive.
Perfect for the season’s merriment.
You will be hard-pushed to know you are not drinking the genuine article.
The funky bottle looks cool too.
Taste the Difference Crémant de Loire, £10, sainsburys.co.uk
★★★★☆
ANOTHER cracking French Crémant that does a good impression of posh Champagne.
That is thanks to a healthy dollop of Chardonnay blended with the Loire region’s Chenin Blanc.
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A bit of brioche, a touch of soft spice and ripe notes of orchard fruit make for a great all-rounder.
This bottle would be a lovely one to toast in the New Year with – giving you a top-quality fizz experience as you pop open the cork.
Lovely bubbly without the hefty price tag.
So cheers to that!
