Would you buy expensive fizz for guests who usually drink champagne?

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We are hosting next weekend for two couples. They both drink a lot! We often go to theirs and one couple in particular likes expensive champagne! Now I love champagne but am equally happy with sparkling wine and Cremant. They do have more money than us so can afford to splash out more but would you get some fancy fizz in knowing they were coming?

Also how much other alcohol and what kind would you get?

We are doing a BBQ and there’s four kids too aged 7-10.

You are hosting, maybe go for good wine. Cremant is often lovely, I'd avoid prosecco personally. It's a bit naff.

The Coop is very good for champagne their Les Pionniers non vintage champagne is excellent. Unfortunately, it isn't currently on offer but usually round Christmas time it is about £15 a bottle so we stock up to take to round to people's houses.

Also if you have an independent wine seller near you go and tell them your budget, what you are making and get them to recommend something. Presumably your guests will also bring something.

I would get one bottle of champagne to kick things off
TBF if we go somewhere for dinner we would normally take a bottle of champagne

Other supermarkets sell very good cremant. I particularly like rosé cremant. I too prefer Cava. I am struggling to understand why Freixenet make prosecco, other than it's so popular. Prosecco is crap compared to cava, cremant and champagne which which are all made by the same method.

Maybe I'm low brow, but I also like tinto de verano which is a red wine spritzer made with lemonade!

It’s a bbq with kids, surely drink wise that’s different to eg an evening dinner?

No, Lidl’s finest would be my offer, 1-2 bottles of the cremant then 3-4 bottles of the prosecco if only drinking fizz

Whatever you do, don’t go for Prosecco, it’s really naff and, if they’re into expensive champagne, I doubt they’d like it.

Does cremant taste like champagne? I’ve never found a champagne I liked. - Tbf, I haven’t had the really really good stuff. I also don’t like cava. I also can’t stand New Zealand wines. There is clearly something about all of them I just can’t stand.

Hmm you’d think that but they have champagne at every occasion!

Crémant is champagne (champagne method where fermentation takes place in the bottle) made outside the Champagne region. A lot of Champagne is brut (dry and can be very dry so lacking flavour imho). Cremant is made in several regions in France and in other countries. The ones typically available in the UK are from from Bourgogne or Limoux and tend to be less dry and a lot cheaper. Cava is made by the same method. The fermentation in the bottle creates the bubbles via a natural process. Prosecco is white wine which is carbonated. So different process which has more reliable, but dull results and requires less skill.

I had some vintage Bollinger once which was gorgeous.

My french neighbours serve crémant. I think It’s just as nice as champagne.
You could make kir royal if you want to be a bit different.

Thank you - I probably won’t like it then. I’m always wary of buying a bottle in case I don’t like it and have to waste it.

I wouldn’t much care for champagne at a barbecue.

And while I like very good wine, no one needs it at a barbecue, outside, with children running around - it’s hardly the right atmosphere to concentrate on what you’re drinking!

Pimm’s is a great idea to begin. Then a decent amount of whatever moderately priced red or white wines go with your food. (I’m generally disappointed when presented with rosé so wouldn’t offer it.)

If it’s really hot weather I much prefer ‘artisan’ cider. (Which can be just as expensive as good wine and more of an adventure for people not accustomed to it.)

Whatever you'd normally have/ prefer

To me crémant is usually a lot nicer than a lot of champagnes, unless you spend a lot of money. Imho it tends to be less dry and have more flavour than a lot of champagnes.

I usually buy Aldi organic Prosecco… I love it and must be ok as it sells out so quickly.

Agreed - much more appropriate for a bbq

Anything you enjoy drinking is okay.

Sainsbury’s have 25% off 6 bottles at the moment so if you can stretch to it I’d be tempted to get the champers in.

I love cremant, cava, champagne and English sparkling.

Prosecco is a different gross animal all together.

Don't stress too much about it as I'm sure your guests will bring what they want to drink with them. I know I always do because I'm terrified of being served Prosecco-it genuinely makes me feel sick

As others have said, if they love champagne (as I do) definitely dont serve Prosecco. Cremant is good if you do want bubbles. English sparkling is lovely, but it costs the same as entry level champagne, so not really a saving to be had there.

Do they really only ever drink champagne? I dont have glamorous mates....

Personally, a jug of pimms, fancied up with edible flowers etc, some lighter red, bone dry white, and interesting cider. Soft drinks for children - j2o or san pellagrino if theyre posh, which double as driver-freindly catering too. Elderflower cordial with sparkling water also feels fancy.

If they desperately want champagne they'll bring some - make sure they have most of it by pre-warning your other closer friends of your dilemma! I dont like sparkling wine.

Champagne at a family barbecue is pretty gauche.
Assuming you are in the UK, I’d expect (local) beer, cider, homemade lemonade and maybe Pimms. English Sparkling wine if wine served.

Don’t serve Pimm’s. Waitrose No1 Cava is gorgeous or a Cremant. Personally I’d serve a champagne/Cava to start and then downgrade as more is drunk.