To think you can get a decent bottle of sparkling wine for £8? (recommendations sought)

[Bemusedandpuzzled]

I posted in 'Wine' but it's deader than a doornail in there, so posting here for traffic.

DH and I are paying for BIL's fizz toast at his forthcoming wedding. It's a big do, so we will need 48 bottles or so. DH and I have budgeted around £400, which works out at around £8 a bottle.

I told my friend about this, and she got all snooty and said we were being cheap not having 'proper' champagne. I am sure that an £80 bottle of fizz tastes wonderful, but DH and I don't have limitless cash. BIL is totally happy with what we have budgeted.

I said we would organise a tasting for BIL and his partner next weekend with 6-7 different bottles, so they can choose their favourite. Can you recommend me some fizz around this price for them to try please?

Aldi prosecco?

Aldi prosecco and Asda finest prosecco

Yep Aldi and Lidl do better 'reasonably priced' wine than most.

Aldi Cava is also lovely and beat expensive champagne on a TV comparison show I watched.

Can you go to somewhere like majestic wine and tell them your budget and requirements? I bet they (or somewhere similar) could offer a good range.

OK, I had a look on the website. Aldi do a Cremant de Jura and an Organic Prosecco that are in the right price range (I've actually had both, as we have a local store, and they are nice). Lidl seem to have won some awards for a Cremant de Bourgogne, which I haven't tried.

Any others?

Look out for when the supermarkets do buy 6, get 20% off type offers. We got all of our wedding wine from Sainsbury's and Morrisons and saved loads. DH is a wine snob so all really decent bottles but probably all ended up under £6 ish.

'Trose has some special offers ATM -- haven't tried the first but the 2nd and 3rd are v.nice
www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-nv-glera-italian-prosecco/718427-224720-224721
www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/san-leo-brut-nv-glera-italian-prosecco/611725-86791-86792
www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/san-leo-rosato-italian-sparkling-rose-wine/583079-82657-82658
or they have Cava if you prefer
www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/codorniu-brut-nv-cava-spanish-sparkling-wine/805595-309052-309053
www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/codorniu-1872-vintage-brut-cava-spanish-sparkling-wine/822890-309224-309225

firstly check how many bottles for sure. The official line is 7 from a bottle of fizz but I go for 6.

Second, can I recommend you to find a branch of Majestic and get them to do all the work for you. Buying from a supermarket and relying on offers and stock may prove a challenge - often cases are limited per customer and you can't rely on being able to pick it up.

If you want to emulate champagne without paying champagne priced look at anything made method traditionelle. See how much cremant is going for. Look at new world ( s African fizz reliably good).

But majestic will help you out and let you taste and buy back any not used etc.

That's really helpful tarty - thanks! I am looking for a couple of rose wines to include, and that third one fits the bill!

When subjected to genuine blind tasting most people wouldn't have a clue which is the expensive champagne and which is Aldi cava and may even prefer the Aldi cava - some people who had previously insisted on £30 champagne for dinner parties and wondered why they had no money preferred the Aldi cava on Eat Well for Less.

Sainsbury's TTD Prosecco has a very good reputation too, or something like this.

What you need to do is buy a few bottles from the suggestions here and have a tasting with BIL and prospective SIL, and snooty friend? and see which you all prefer while enjoying getting tipsy.

Then look out for a voucher code or 20% off when you buy a load type deal. You'll definitely get the quantity you need for your budget.

San Leo Prosecco from Waitrose is another one that's highly regarded and is often on offer at that price.

I don't buy it any more because it is really hard to open. Same for the M&S Prosecco they were doing as part of their 'Pizza and Prosecco' deal last weekend.

Barbara - yes, that's what I'm doing. Next weekend is the tasting; I want them to have something they know they really enjoy rather than making an executive decision. Snooty friend won't be coming though I'm trying to choose bottles that are on a 20% deal right now, and I'll buy straight away when they've chosen and store them til the big day in October. The wedding isn't far from my house, so it's not like I have to transport them across the country or anything.

If the reception is at a hotel, function space or restaurant, you may be charged corkage or be obliged to use their own fizz will blow your budget

But YANBU about an £8 bottle of fizz being very drinkable

Sainsbury's do a lovely sparkling rose which is about £6 i believe. Can't remember the name of it but it's mine and DH's favourite at the minute

Could someone recommend me some good sparkling South African wines I could look out for (currently there and need to buy for an event)?
Thanks and sorry for the derail!

It's £8.99 but this Crémant is lovely

www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10317-10001-42628-Cuvee+Royale+Brut+Cremant+de+Limoux

The thing is you CAN tell usually tell the difference between sparkling wine than champagne. I know I have done, including in a couple of blind taste tests Ive been on. Just like you can tell the difference between other types of white wine. BUT thats fine. Prosecco and cava, and other sparkling wines are just simply a different drink and good in their own right. I like champagne. I also like prosecco, cava and other sparkling wines too. So long as it is fairly dry I like it - I don't like sweet wines sparkling or otherwise.

You can definitely buy a decent bottle of sparkling wine for £8. Especially if you can use the bulk buy discounts many places have.

Oh, and just because many people can taste the difference between champagne and other sparkling wines it doesn't mean that the champagne is always the best tasting.

www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/rose-299871-44/sainsburys-fairtrade-ros%C3%A9-moscato--taste-the-difference-75cl-7543630-p-44

Here it is! £5 a bottle

Thanks, I am following all your links and making a big old list!

Moira - corkage isn't an issue, the reception isn't in a place that charges it.

travelling - no problem, your question is actually really helpful!

hulababy - you sound like you know your stuff, do you have any recommendations?

coleslaw - a fiver! Bargain!

Look up Premier Estates Wines - the prosecco is fab. My all time fave prosecco is - Ruggeri Prosecco with the orange string on top.