Ravenswood Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel
Not so long ago, Ravenswood founder Joel Peterson remarked that when he started out, his wines were considered high-alcohol. These days, Ravenswood’s Zinfandels seem positively graceful compared to some of the galumphing Zin-monsters out thereand that’s why we still love them. Of particular note is its Lodi Zinfandel, a shade pricier than the company’s ubiquitous Vintners Blend, but with a depth of blackberry richness that’s well worth the few extra dollars.
Morrisons The Best Brut Premier Cru Champagne
£21 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Morrisons claims its Premier Cru champagne is noticeably richer and more elegant than standard blends, with ‘fine bubbles, intense flavours and a long refined finish’. So was it crowned a Best Buy?
For our full verdict, join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons.
How To Recycle Champagne Bottles
Glass bottles can usually go in your household recycling bin. If your council doesnt accept them, you can take them to a local bottle bank.
The recycling process can vary depending on where you live, so make sure to check with your local area if bottles require rinsing first and whether metal screw caps should be replaced or recycled separately.
Natural corks cant go in your recycling bin. You can recycle natural corks through Recorked UK either by posting them or dropping them off at your nearest collection point.
Synthetic corks, which are made of plastic, cant be recycled. They should be disposed of in your general waste bin.
Recommended Reading: What Are The Best Wine Glasses
Mezza Di Mezzacorona Trentino Italy
Price: $14.99An invigorating blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Muller-Thurgau grapes, this Italian glacial bubbly from the foot of the Dolomites has intense-yet-pleasant flavors of white peach, pineapple, and wild mountain rose that are perfect for enjoying on December 31…and the morning of January 1 with a splash of OJ and no more people in your house.
Concha Y Toro Casillero Del Diablo Rapel Velley Carmenre
Odds are that if you’re drinking a Chilean wine, it’s Concha y Toro, which is not only that country’s largest producer but also its largest exporter, accounting for almost a third of all Chile’s international wine sales. The blackberry-rich Casillero del Diablo Carmenère, made from vineyards all over Chile’s Central Valley , is Concha y Toro’s affordable star.
Don’t Miss: Do They Still Make Wine Coolers
Aldi Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut: The Best Budget Champagne
Price: £14 | Buy now from Aldi
This bottle is a great example of the supermarkets putting their buying power to good use by championing a small, highly acclaimed Champagne house and making it accessible. Its a fabulous Champagne at a super-affordable price, scores consistently highly in independent tests and scoops plenty of winemaking awards.
We like this fizz for its classically balanced blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes, which have been carefully aged in cellars. The result is a crowd-pleasing and complex bouquet of fruit and florals, bursting with red and green apples and an elegant, crisp finish that easily holds its own against more premium Champagnes. Deliciously dry and with fine, persistent bubbles, this Champagne is such great value, you can afford to be generous when serving it as an aperitif, with light nibbles or simply enjoying it on its own.
Key details Bottle size: 75cl ABV: 14%
Price: £32 | Buy now from The Whisky Exchange
Champagne fans looking for a well-made bottle away from the bigger and more famous Champagne houses will enjoy being introduced to this Ayala Brut Majeur. Its from the AYALA house, which has been making Champagne since the late 1800s and is now owned by the Bollinger family.
Its a great example of a NV Brut that offers interest, quality and value for money plus the box makes it a smart gift option. Wed recommend drinking this one with food: think seafood, chicken dishes and light cheeses.
How To Open Champagne
When opening a bottle of fizz, remember it will behave far better and more predictably if it has been left to sit and chill for a few hours. Warmth and/or rough handling both make for an explosive cork situation and the likelihood of more mess and waste. Champagne should go into glasses, not onto ceilings.
- Make sure you have your glasses ready and within easy reach. Then, take your bottle and remove the foil there should be a tag or perforation line to make this easy and neat.
- Once this is done, grip the neck of the bottle in one hand with your thumb over the top of the caged cork.
- From here on in, keep the bottle pointed away from yourself and anyone present, especially people’s faces about a 45 degree angle is good.
- With your other hand, untwirl the cage fastening. Uncover your thumb, lift off the cage and replace your thumb over the cork.
- If you can feel the cork pushing to leave the bottle already, get a glass ready. Otherwise, with the bottle gripped in one hand, slowly pull up the cork with the other. It may be quite stiff at first if so, alternate pulling and twisting motions but as you go you’ll start to feel the pressure from within helping you out.
- Ease it up, always with your hand over the cork in a firm grip and, as you hear a pop, you know you’ve opened it.
Now return to the first glass and, tilting it also at around 45 degrees, top up slowly, until no more than two-thirds full.
Don’t Miss: How Much Is Barolo Wine
Great Bubbly At A Great Price
Want to order your wedding wine online? Check out . They have a great selection of wines under $15 per bottle. We especially love Martha Stewart Wine Co. because all of the wines have been tested and approved by the lifestyle queen herself. Martha doesnt put her name on things that arent quality, so you know youre getting something great at a great price!
So tell us: are you planning to serve bubbly at your wedding? Or are you going to skip the pricey champagne? Join us in the community to chat about it!
Morrisons Adrien Chopin Champagne
£19 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Morrisons Adrien Chopin champagne earned a Best Buy in our 2020 taste test. But champagnes change each year, so there’s no guarantee that it scored as well in this year’s test.
Did it impress for a second year running? Join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons.
Recommended Reading: Where Can I Buy Lambrusco Red Wine
Best Ros: Ruinart Brut Ros
Image Source / Wine.com
Region: Champagne, France | ABV: 12.5% | Tasting Notes: Raspberry, Toastiness, Honey
Adored by French kings and modern-day celebrities, this rosé Champagne by Ruinart is a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay with a fresh, fruity flavor profile. Founded in 1729, Ruinart is the oldest established house of Champagne that has exclusively produced exceptional bubbly.
Ruinarts Chef de Caves , Frédéric Panaïotis, highly recommends serving his intensely aromatic, red-fruited rosé bubbly alongside Peking duck: “The crispy skin and soft meat contrast, the complex and gently spicy flavors, make for a beautiful, refined combination.” He also suggests fixing up an upside-down vine-ripened tomato and balsamic vinegar pie, with fresh opal basil and shaved 24-month-old Parmigiano. The gentle effervescence wraps up the light puff pastry, the acidity and sweetness of the tomatoes, he says.
Region: Champagne, France | ABV: 12.5% | Tasting Notes: Cherry, Ginger, Peppery minerality
The Paul Bara estate is now overseen by Pauls daughter, Chantale, and features a thirty-foot-deep cellar dug straight into Bouzys signature subsoil composed of pure chalk.
The 10 Best Cheap Champagnes Money Can Buy
Theres little that compares to a bottle of good champagne when you have an occasion to celebrate. Big and small events are marked with this wonderful adult beverage, often referred to as Bubbly. If youre on a budget but you have a taste for the finer things in life, all is not lost. You dont need to spend a fortune to enjoy a glass or two of quality champagne. With the help of Town and Country Magazine and Liquor.com, weve put together a list of the 10 best cheap champagnes money can buy and ranked them in order of quality.
You May Like: Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay 2020
Lidl Veuve Delattre Champagne Brut Nv
£12 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
This is the cheapest fizz on test – a bottle of Lidl’s Veuve Delattre costs around a third of the price of luxury champagnes we tested such as Moët & Chandon and Taittinger. Is it a bargain worth snapping up?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out if this cheap champagne is any match for the big brands.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Lidl.
Best For Gifting: Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame
Wine
Region: Champagne, France | ABV: 12.5% | Tasting Notes: Crème brûlée, Honeysuckle, Bosc pear
If you love Champagne, you know Veuve Clicquot. The iconic label is the standard-bearer of consistent, high-quality Champagne, and their “La Grande Dame” expression is a standout. Clicquot tapped Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama to design a special label and presentation box for their prestige cuvée, the vintage-dated La Grande Dame 2012. The flower design symbolizes “vital energy, love and celebration of life,” according to Clicquot, and “the polka dots, Yayoi Kusama’s signature patterns, are reworked like Champagne bubbles to embody La Grande Dame 2012.”
As for the taste, beautiful toasty notes of crème brûlée and honeycomb find pops of fragrant white flowers and honeysuckle. It’s persistent with a decadent lively and zippy mousse. Granny Smith apple, Bosc pear and lemon zest add layers of complexity, while a fine thread of stony minerality solidifies this remarkable Champagne.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Remove Red Wine Stains From Fabric
Penfolds Koonunga Hill South Australia Shiraz
Once upon a time, only one Australian wine was considered first-rate: Penfolds Grange, a Shiraz and Cabernet blend. While Grange remains the country’s standard-bearer, Penfolds also makes many other excellent wines, especially its blackberry-scented, fruit- forward Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the most reliable reds from Down Under.
J Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
One of the biggest growers in the Central Coast, the Lohr family farms more than 3,600 acres of vines in Monterey County and Paso Robles. The latter vineyards are the primary source for this finely made, incredibly reliable red. It hews to a crowd-pleasing style, with sweet American oak accents and plenty of aromatic, juicy cherry fruit.
Also Check: Where Can I Buy Purple Rain Wine
A Selection Of Winegrowers’ Champagnes
Winegrower’s champagnes are made from grapes grown on their property. In this context, it is the winegrower who is responsible for the cultivation of the vine, the harvest of the grapes, the handling and often even the marketing. These processes take out intermediaries and therefore allows us to offer cheaper price points for our champagnes compared to those of the bigger champagne Houses.
Additionally to the lower manufacturing costs, winegrowers invest less in marketing and advertising, making it possible for us to offer cheaper champagne. Indeed, since their best advertising is the guarantee of a great product, these winegrowers rely mainly on “word of mouth”.
Finally, compared to the big champagne Houses, small winegrowers are not as known for exporting and are less prone to price inflation due to the increasing foreign demand. Winegrower’s Champagnes are definitely a “good deal” which the French enjoy .
Bogle Old Vine California Zinfandel
The Bogle family has been farming in California’s Clarksburg region since the mid-1800s but only ventured into grape growing in 1968. The late Warren Bogle and his son Chris founded their eponymous winery about 10 years later. The family business is currently headed by Chris and Patty Bogle’s three children: Warren, Ryan, and Jody. Bogle farms more than 1,200 acres of wine grapes in the Sacramento Deltasome of which go into Bogle’s jammy, luscious Old Vine Zinfandel, one of the best Zinfandel deals on the market.
You May Like: How Much Is In Box Wine
How Long Champagne Lasts For And How To Store It
The shelf life of your champagne depends on the style. Non-vintage champagnes can last unopened for three to four years, while vintage champagnes can be kept for as long as 10 years. Some people will prefer to store it for a while before opening, to allow for it to age.
To prevent your champagne ageing too quickly, our experts recommend storing bottles standing up in a dark place with a cool, constant temperature.
Once opened, it’s best to drink champagne within three to five days – after this, it may lose its fizz.
Best champagne, prosecco and sparkling wine preservers – find out which preservers will prevent your champagne from going flat with our expert guide.
Chateau Ste Michelle Columbia Valley Merlot
Unquestionably the largest producer in Washington State , Chateau Ste. Michelle is also one of the most adventurous: The winery has forged partnerships with famous European names such as Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Ernst Loosen of Germany’s Mosel, and has developed properties in up-and-coming regions like Washington’s Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills. Its Columbia Valley Merlotsmoky, savory, and rich with black cherry fruitis one of the reasons Washington Merlot is so highly regarded.
Also Check: Can I Get Wine Delivered
Bargain Bottle Champagne Guide
If you want to score affordable sparklers, look for Italian and Spanish sparkling wines. Spanish Cava or Italian Prosecco Mionetto Prosecco Brut are great choices. For a sweet champagne, try a Moscato d’Asti Saracco Moscato d’Asti .
- Champagne Bonus Recipe Idea: Any of these would be lovely additions to these delicious Mimosa Pancakes.
Best Overall: Mailly Brut Reserve Grand Cru Champagne
Courtesy of Drizly
For a true Champagne, Mailly Brut Reserve Grand Cru is a fantastic option. Its not necessarily cheap, but it is relatively affordable when compared to the majority of French Champagnes. The grand cru label means its from an area within the Champagne region known for great growth. Thats a good indicator that something really good awaits when you pop the cork, and this bottle is an excellent representation of the famous wine style.
This Champagne will never let you down as it is a meticulous and consistent blend of base and reserve wines from pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. With a brilliant gold tone and lively bubbles, the Champagne is big, bold, and memorable. Toasted bread notes are accented with a blend of luscious fruits and its just dry enough to be a wonderful companion with nearly any food.
Region: Champagne, France | ABV: 12% | Tasting Notes: Toasted bread, cooked green apple, brioche
You May Like: Harry And David Chardonnay
Lidl Comte De Senneval Champagne Brut Nv
£13.50 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Lidl’s Comte de Senneval champagne has a temptingly low price. Can it rival more expensive bottles when it comes to taste?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and see how this budget-friendly bubbly scored.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Lidl.
Champagne Buying Guide: The Basics
Champagne is different from sparkling wine. Champagne with a capital “C” can only come from the Champagne region in France, which means it can come with a hefty price tag. However, champagne from other areasusually called sparkling wineis moderately priced and can be just as delicious. To spot a just-as-good sparkler follow this champagne buying guide strategy: Look for “Methode Traditionelle” on the bottle’s label. This means the sparkling wine has been made the same way as true Champagne instead of with the time-saving Charmat process, which involves bulk fermentation in tanks and results in a lesser-quality wine.
A few cues on the label can be your champagne guide to help you determine if a sparkling wine is dry or sweet.
- For dry champagne: look for “brut” on the label
- For dry champagne that’s a little sweet: look for “extra dry” or “extra sec” on the label
- For sweet champagne: opt for Moscato, a white wine that has a softer bubbly quality that pairs well with desserts
Champagne Selection Guide Tip: If you see “vintage” printed on your bottle of champagne along with the year, it means that particular sparkling wine was made with what the winemaker considered to be extraordinary grapes. However, if your bottle doesn’t have a year listed, that doesn’t make it inferior. In fact, when winemakers combine grapes from a variety of years, it allows them to maintain consistent quality and taste.
Also Check: How To Take Out Wine Stains
What About The Grapes
Grape variety also plays a large part in determining how a Champagne will taste. Most use one or more of the classic Champagne grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Champagnes with lots of Chardonnay are typically light, zippy, lemony and rich with orchard fruit, while Pinot Noir is a red grape so has a more fully fruited, round flavour.
Champagnes made with just white grapes are known as Blanc de Blancs, and tend to be crisper and have a more mineral character than red-white blends. Rosé Champagnes are made when the red grape skins are allowed to have some contact with the wine, lending its blushing pink colour, and often a slight berry fruit note.
Nv Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rserve
Origin: Chouilly, FranceVarietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierPrice: $30 for 750 ml.ABV: 12%
Nicolas Feuillatte is a slightly different kind of Champagne house. First of all, unlike the majority of the worlds most beloved, centuries-old brands, Feuillatte was founded in 1976! And, it was a Champagne house built on the principle of providing Champagnes that are accessible to the widest audience possible. So, it should be no surprise that the winerys blue label Brut Réserve is one of the most popular Champagnes in the world.
Its a big wine for the price. The Brut Réserve offers floral and fall fruit aromas with just a hint of roasted nuts. Its a fresh and flirty wine, one meant to be enjoyed now, not cellared. Sweet fruit flavors are cut by a deliciously biting lemon acidity to give the wine elegance yet approachability. One of the most easy-drinking wines Champagne has to offer, it retails around $30 but can often be found on special promotional sales for an even greater value.
> For more information, visit Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte official website.
You May Like: What Is The Best Wine Fridge
