Under £20
SPECIALLY SELECTED CRÉMANT DU JURA 2018 Aldi, £8.49
An elegant sip with a hint of apples, it’s a jolly nice festive fizz staple created from chardonnay grapes. gra
ADRIEN CHOPIN BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV
£18, Morrisons
This champagne won this year’s Which? Champagne Test and is worth every drop of praise it receives. It has a nice elongated bubble and a vibrant nose, ripe with apples, apple crumble, vanilla and red fruits.
CHAPEL DOWN SPARKLING BACCHUS BRUT
RRP £17, Waitrose, Majestic This English sparkling wine is very much about fruit, orchards, hedgerows and crisp refreshing sensations. If you want lighter celebrations then it’s an ideal wine for you. There’s a third off the RRP at Waitrose in December.
CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE BRUT
£10, Marks & Spencer A crémant made in the same way as champagne. I enjoyed its soft structure and long finish. This also won the Great Value Sparkling between £12 and £20 at the International Wine Challenge.
FINEST PROSECCO
£8, Tesco I never tire of sipping this prosecco, which was the winner in my festive prosecco category last year. And in my Christmas blind-tasting this year it happily shared flirts ts of fun and fizz and fruit, making its £8 a happy price.
GRAHAM BECK BRUT
£16.99 or £11.99 in a buy six deal at Majestic This sparkling wine from South Africa has turned heads before. It was served at Barack Obama’s election celebrations. Chardonnay and pinot noir combine to make this champagne-style g fizz a light delight of apples apple and vanilla.
CHAMPAGNE COMTE DE SENNEVAL 2014
£19.99, Lidl THIS is a vintage champagne. Producers only make a vintage champagne when the growing conditions have been just right. Its aromas are heady, with ripe, ripe apples, a buttery biscuit base, citrus and a hint of caramel.
MAISON DE LA ROUGERIE CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX BLANC BRUT
£8.75, Iceland Crémant from Iceland? Don’t go asking if it sent shivers down my spine. The wine has a lemony nose, with pears and ripe apples. I perceived a bitterness and the palate wasn’t as fruity as the nose.
PROSECCO VALDOBBIADENE DOCG
£10.50, Spar Another old favourite, which once again teased my tastebuds with its spritely pear, apple and lemon notes. DOCG on a prosecco label, and the words Valdobbiadene indicate a prosecco that is a step above in quality. quality
MARQUES DEL NORTE CAVA BRUT
£7.25, Asda This cava has a nose of burnt sugar, caramelised apples, vanilla, biscuit, and slices of fresh green and red apples. Quite dry, but mouthwatering. Nudged out Lidl’s Arestel Cava Bru Brut (£5.29) from this list as it had more complexity.