Champagne is not the only answer...

There's no better time of year for finding an excuse to pop open a bottle of something lovely and bubbly.

Aperitifs, drinks parties, toasting in the New Year, Christmas morning lazy breakfast or just a festive fizzy Friday. It's always handy to have a bottle or two on standby in the fridge.

 

But does it always have to be Champagne?

Champagne always has its place and nothing can beat the elegance of the tiny bubbles bursting and releasing the bright zesty aromas, taking that first sip and savouring the rich fruit flavours and toasty biscuit touches and enjoying the lasting fresh clean finish which just sets up the palate for further sips. A simple touch of luxury in a glass.  There are many ‘big name' Champagnes out there which we have all heard of but we suggest you may get better value for money without compromising on quality by searching out lesser known Champagne Houses. And for us it has to be Champagne Lallier for everything from entry level to Rosé through to vintage, their champagnes are hard to beat.

 

Palate says Champagne? Budget says not? Step just outside the region of Champagne for a few Burgundy bubbles in the form of a Crémant de Bourgogne. It is Champagne in all but name and that tiny bit of geography. Made in the same way and using the same blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, grown on very similar soils as Champagne, this classic elegant sparkling wine will have everyone fooled it's the real thing at only half the price. The bottle even looks great.

 

Ok so we're catering for more guests, serving a few nibbles and generally having a fun social time then to me that says ‘Prosecco' – always an approachable fun fizz to suit most palates, and now available in a low sugar variety ‘Skinny' Prosecco, all the fun without the guilt. And if you've had enough of Prosecco why not try Durello? Very fashionable in the bars of Verona thanks to its cleaner brighter more mineral palate and becoming more popular here by the day. Try one for yourself to see. Alternatively we can liven up a fiesta with Cava from Spain. Again offering great value for money and with yeasty fresh notes reminiscent of Champagne, it is a perfect partner for many festive offerings.

 

We have many more sparkling wines and Champagnes on offer if you browse our website or visit the shop, but whichever you choose we hope your Christmas is truly sparkling!

For more sparkling options click here...

For all our festive offers click here...