Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of India, announced a reduction in booze duty last week. He said that the price of English sparkling wine and prosecco will be reduced by up to 89p per bottle.
With bargain bubbles no longer reserved just for special celebrations, FEMAIL has revealed the best champagne, prosecco and sparkling wines to pair with a variety of different meals – from fried chicken to roasted pork belly.
Brodie Meah is a London-based restauranteur, sommelier and chef. who co-founded online wine store Shop Cuvée, has revealed his top picks of bubbly, with prices ranging from £8.49 to £60.
From a £8.49 sparkling chardonnay paired with a French cheese to a refreshing offering of a £37 Burgundy from wine maker Fred Cossard, which is best teamed with oysters, there’s a bottle to suit ever budget.
Aldi’s Organic Champagne, £26.99
Aldi’s Organic Champagne, £26.99, should be paired with specially selected mussels in cream sauce
Hailing from the Marne Valley, Aldi’s own-brand organic champagne was produced by Philizot & Fils in the village of Reuil.
The champagne, which has notes of blossom and redcurrant, was created without the use of pesticides or chemicals, resulting in a unique pink colour.
Brodie said, “It’s very interesting to see that Aldi’s champagne is certified organic.”
It is difficult to grow organically within the region due to the bad weather and the high risk of getting sick. Because of the long history in industrial agriculture, much of the soil in the region is dead.
Pairing: Specially selected mussels with cream sauce
Available starting at: Aldi
SC20, Pinot Noir, £25.00
SC20, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, £25.00, should be paired with a baked camembert or other soft cheese
This sparkling wine was made in Tillingham, a small Sussex village. It is made from organic apples and grapes that were picked from an orchard just a few miles from the winery.
Brodie commented, “A very interesting mixture of the classic Champagne grape variety trio, Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay but interestingly with an addition of apples grown in Sussex.”
Pairing: A baked camembert or other soft cheese works really well with the little bright apple cider notes.
Available starting at: Online wine stores
Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, £36.99
Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, £36.99, should be teamed with roasted pork belly with extra crispy skin
Nyetimber Manor Vineyard is a well-known winemaker from the South. They produce a light, elegant English wine.
The fizz is produced by the traditional method from the classic varieties of chardonnay, pinot Noir and pinot Meunier and has notes of honey, almond and apple.
‘A very special English sparkling wine rivaling any champagne, this wine was fermented in old oak barrels before being aged for 2-3 years in a bottle,’ explained Brodie.
‘All Nyetimber vines are located within the South Downs lee which affords them protection from the coastal winds. They have been deliberately planted south facing in order to make the most out of the sun’
Pairing: Roasted pork belly with extra crispy skin
Available starting at: Waitrose and M&S
Casa Belfi, Rosso Bio Frizzant, £18
Casa Belfi, Rosso Bio Frizzant, £18, should be teamed with Grilled lamb, especially a lean cut with some wine in your marinade
Hailing from the Veneto region in northeastern Italian, this sparkling red is light, refreshing and full of cherry and raspberry flavours.
Brodie noted that the sparkling red is refreshing and grippy and Lambrusco-style. It’s full of flavour and depth. Perfect in the summer months as well as in winter. This light sparkling wine is a popular aperitif in its native Veneto and is a great introduction for those who are curious about natural wines.
Pairing: A lean cut of grilled lamb pairs well with this, maybe even add some wine to your marinade.
Available starting at: Online wine stores
La Chassornade, Aligoté, £37
La Chassornade, Aligoté, £37, has notes of lemons and sea salt which the sommelier says makes it the perfect accompaniment to oysters
This sparkling wine was created by Fred Cossard, a well-known winemaker. It has lemons and sea salt notes that make it the perfect companion to oysters.
“The perfect Pet Nat. 100 per cent Aligoté from Burgundian legend Fred Cossard – the name being a mix of his Domaine de Chassorney and Lemonade!’ Brodie explained. Brodie said, “A subtle nod to this wine’s extremely refreshing character!”
Pairing: Oysters and plenty of them!
Available starting at: Online wine stores
Specially Selected Crémant du Jura, £8.49
Specially Selected Crémant du Jura, £8.49, should be teamed with the iconic cheese of the region, Comté
Carefully aged to give the wine a subtle complexity, this sparkling chardonnay from eastern France offers a fresh and elegant finish with notes of of apple and citrus fruits.
‘The Jura is a wine region that’s been making big waves in the Natural Wine world over the years for the esoteric still reds and oxidative white wines but there’s a long history of Crémant production in the region,’ said Brodie. ‘100% Chardonnay, a great alternative to Prosecco. It is always crisp and clean.
Pairing: The iconic cheese of the region, Comté is a no brainer
Available starting at: Aldi
Agrapart, Les 7 Crus, £60
Agrapart, Les 7 Crus, £60, which has been aged for between two and three years – is the perfect drink to team with fried chicken
Produced exclusively in the villages Avize, Oger, Oiry and Cramant, this champagne is a blend of 90 per cent Chardonnay and 10 per cent Pinot Noir.
Despite it’s slightly higher price tag, the fizz – which has been aged for between two and three years – is the perfect drink to team with fried chicken.
Brodie said, “No sparkling wine collection would be complete without a decadent Champagne. This is the one that I always reach out for on special occasions.”
“A blend of the 2018-2019 vintages, this is a wonderful example of how non-vintage champagne can be. This champagne has a wonderful balance of minerality and fruit flavor.
Pairing: Fried Chicken, the perfect meeting of two very different worlds!
Available starting at: Online wine stores
You can also splash out on…
Bollinger R.D. ,£190
Bollinger R.D. has a unique flavor profile due to its long lees aging. ,£190, meaning it should be paired with truffle
Brodie stated that Bollinger “RD”, a reserve restaurant at the top of the food chain, holds a special place among fancy sommeliers.
‘RD’ stands for recently disgorged, which means that the wine is released months after the yeast cells and other sediment are removed from the bottle.
“Giving us the rare chance to taste Champagne aged on leses for an extraordinarily long time.”
Pairing:The unique flavour profile of long lees aged truffle is possible thanks to its unique flavor profile.
Available starting at: Waitrose