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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
