Anyone know their Champagne?

[Doordine]

I'd like to get a really delicious bottle of Champagne in for Christmas. But I would also like to do so as cheaply as possible.

So are brands like Bollinger, Tattinger, VC, LP, Moet the only ones worth getting? Or can you get a bottle that tastes good for £20-£30?

[Spanielsanddaughters]

Pol roger is a good option. Usually can get one for about £35 if that helps

[EssentialHummus]

Worth checking Which etc - one of Aldi or Lidl is always mentioned at around a tenner a bottle.

[Spanielsanddaughters]

Oh and I just remembered I’ve bought a champagne from the coop a few times before, forgot the name but about £17 (I THINK it might be this one www.coop.co.uk/products/les-pionniers-champagne)
And it was great.

[edgeware]

Aldi champagne is good, I’ve had the Veuve Monsigny Champagne from there and it’s great.

[Meepmeeep]

Supermarkets will start doing offers on them soon and it’s not unrealistic to pick up a bottle of Moët or Lanson for under £30. VC might be a few £ dearer but not much.

[CupboardMonster]

Look out for offers as there will be loads. I love Canard Duchene, Ayala and Mumm as lower priced options.
Agree with the Pol Roger suggestion if you see it on offer in your budget.

If you're willing to use a wine merchant than Tanners own label takes some beating for value/quality. Grower champagnes are where I seek value, read a bit on wine merchant websites for advice.

I adore champagne but if you fancied something closer to home that is excellent try Nyetimber.

[Doordine]

Thanks so much everyone!

I tried an £11.99 bottle from Lidl last year and it was vile.

[Doordine]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but is there a big difference between vintage and non vintage?

[Svelteinmydreams]

Not champagne, but English sparkling Chapel Down Rose which I got in Waitrose. Sainsbury’s also stock it and often have special offers.

[thelegohooverer]

Champagne is a sparkling wine from a region of France. If you don’t mind it not being called champagne you can get some lovely, sparkling wine at very good prices.

Do you prefer a dry or sweet champagne?

[jcurve]

Tesco Finest and Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference champagne - really! Both are very good for their price.

Avoid Bredon, the cheap Waitrose champagne.

Champagne is mostly on sale over the next 2 weeks so now is a good time to look for some. For branded champagne, Lanson is slightly underpriced in the U.K. and usually can be had for £25 ish on sale.

[nancybotwinbloom]

I got a magnum of moet a couple of weeks ago in Asda as there was an issue with how it was scanning.

I saw a friend who works in there whilst I was doing my shop and she told me to get it now before they fixed the error.

I got the magnum for my mum. It was £30.

I don't like champagne it gives me the worst heartburn ever.

[jcurve]

Vintage means champagne that has been aged for at least 3 years & only contains grapes from a specific year. Usually they are the best grapes of the harvest.

Non vintage is aged for a minimum of 15 months and can contain grapes from a few different years.

For the casual champagne drinker, you probably wouldn’t notice a big enough difference to warrant the price jump.

[Cosmos45]

Personally, I am not too bothered by champagne and I like wine (a bit too much). I suppose it depends on taste but if it were me I would go and get a nice bottle of Cremant. Crémant is a type of sparkling wine from France and is made in the ‘traditional’ method, similar to champagne and cava. I discovered it in the Loire valley a few years ago and now much prefer this to champagne or prosecco. I find champagne too dry. Cremant is in Sainsbury's at £11 a bottle but they often do it on offer for about £9 if you want to try it first.

[Doordine]

Such helpful replies - thanks everyone

[buckeejit]

Agree re Sainsburys cremant de Loire, it's lovely. I've also bought a bottle of the blanc de noir champagne-highly rated in my wee supermarket wine book

[Baxdream]

Chapel down sparkling Bacchus

[callmeadoctor]

www.aldi.co.uk/specially-selected-crémant-du-jura/p/706337417470300 Bit of a sparkling expert here: This wine is divine. We will be buying it instead of champagne, the best there is ( and had won all sorts of awards)

[AllTheCakes]

If you fancy British, Nyetimber is excellent at around £20-25 a bottle.

[averythinline]

I love champagne:) but have cava budget..
Current favourite : Sainsbury pinot noir its dry but biscuity
Their vintage is good as well.
Waitrose blanc de blanc is good but they don't always have it
They also have a lovely Italian rose fizz

Really didn't like the aldi or lidl .. thin and acidic ... tesco cava much better...is bargain fizz of choice...the vintage is better but not worth it unless on offer..

If buying a name perrier jouet or pommery Louise...money no object-vintage krug :)

[Radiatornoise]

I second the Tesco Finest champagne for £20 a bottle (look out for it when it’s reduced to £18. It is buttery and crisp, I call it Baby Dom Perignon as it is similar in taste but £130 cheaper

[CupboardMonster]

Another fan of Sainsbury's own label crémant de Loire here, it's outstanding value for money and lovely. I have it on permanent rotation in my (wine nerd) house.

[Laufeythejust]

We got one the other day from tescos called ‘love’ I think it was tescos own brand £20 and it was delicious! We normally buy Piper Heidsieck but I’m happy to switch to this and save £15 per bottle!

[Cornishmumofone]

Veuve cliquot is much nicer than Moet... but I'd be quite happy with a bottle of moscato!

[CupboardMonster]

Also a good call on Aldi crémant du Jura, I'd buy it above a lot of cheapo badly made unbalanced champagne offerings.