Whether you’re celebrating or making the most of a random Friday night, there’s nothing like a glass of bubbles – and sometimes only Champagne will cut it.
There’s something about Champagne’s vibrantly fresh fruitiness so elegantly combined with an oaky, bready complexity that scratches an itch for luxurious sipping in a way Prosecco just can’t.
Indulging in a glass can spark real joy, yet we often only consider Champagne as a rare treat due to its extravagant pricing. But what if I told you there is some incredible value to be found, even on the tightest of budgets.
Best Champagnes under £50 at a glance
Best overall – Henriot Brut Souverain NV: £38, Tesco.com
Best affordable buy – Tesco Finest Vintage Champagne 2019: £32, Tesco.com
Best for pairing with creamy pasta – Perrier Jouët Grand Brut NV: £50, Sainsburys.co.uk
Best for celebrations – Sainsbury's Blanc de Noirs Brut NV: £26, Sainsburys.co.uk
Best everyday Champagne – Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut NV: £28, Waitrose.com
I’ve spoken with Champagne experts across the country and scoured retailers to find the best bargains for under £50. Only those bottles that deliver an exceptional price to flavour ratio have been included, but surprisingly there’s actually a lot of choice.
Here are 12 bottles of the best Champagnes for under £50 ranging from non-vintage cuvées by prestige maisons, to rosés, blanc de noirs and incredible vintage blanc de blancs from your average supermarket.
What is Champagne?
Champagne is a sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France from three grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Some Champagnes are made using techniques that enhance a creamy texture, bready notes and subtle hints of vanilla and oak, while others forgo them to focus on the grapes’ natural fruit flavours.
While it’s common to believe all Champagne is made the same, styles actually vary somewhat between producers. I find some people love the bright, floral and fruit-forward Champagnes, while others prefer to get deep into the bready, yeasty aromas that come with long ageing, so just go with whichever style you prefer.
A short guide to Champagne terms
Non-vintage: a blend of wines from multiple years
Vintage: contains only wine from a single year
Blanc de Blancs: Champagne made with only white grapes, i.e. Chardonnay
Blanc de Noirs: Champagne made with only black grapes but without extracting any red colour from the skins, i.e. Pinot Noir and Meunier
Rosé: Champagne made with white and/or black grapes with colour extraction from the skins to impart flavour and a pink hue
How I taste-tested
All wines were chilled before tasting, with only one bottle removed from the fridge at a time to ensure they remained cool. I nosed and tasted from an elegant white wine glass that’s also designed for sparkling wines and chilled reds, to maximise the aromatics on the nose. The glass was rinsed between samples with only water to cleanse my palate as well. After nosing and tasting, all samples were spat to avoid intoxication affecting my judgement – this is the standard for all wine and spirit tasting competitions.
Henriot Brut Souverain NV
★★★★★
Best: Overall Champagne under £50
What we love: Incredible complexity and balance for the price, rare Pinot Noir-led blend, and female-founded Champagne house, and female cellar master
Take note: So good you’ll only drink Henriot from now on
Widely regarded by the industry’s top palates, Champagne Henriot has a reputation for producing top quality wines to savour. Its Souverain non-vintage is no exception. A rare Pinot Noir-led blend of more than 25 crus from the finest vineyards in Cote des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, the Champagne spends more than four years ageing, giving it distinctive aromas of freshly-baked bread alongside stewed apples, pears, lemon peel and a touch of oak. It’s also indulgently creamy, with a memorably long finish. Henriot Souverain’s complexity and depth represents incredible value for money. A gorgeous wine for a special occasion (or a Friday evening).
- Style: Non-Vintage Champagne
- Produced in: Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
Tesco Finest Vintage Champagne 2019
★★★★☆
Best: Affordable Champagne
What we love: Vintage Champagne at NV prices, and lovely complexity of flavours
Take note: Not quite as refined as pricier bottles
Although a little rough around the edges, Tesco’s 2019 vintage blanc de blancs is probably my favourite of the current supermarket Champagnes for its toasty breadiness balanced against a citrusy-bright acidity. Its aromatic notes of orange blossom and lemon give way to a creamy palate of apricots, honey and lightly toasted bread. It’s incredible to find a vintage Grand Cru Champagne at this price. Pair it with cheese toasties or smoked salmon sandwiches for a boujee afternoon treat.
- Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne
- Produced in: Champagne, France
- ABV: 12.5%
- Size: 75cl
Perrier Jouët Grand Brut NV
★★★★★
Best: Champagne for pairing with creamy pasta or white fish
What we love: Its enchantingly delicate floral character, and light freshness that lasts
Take note: It slides just over the £50 budget
If you can spare the extra £1 over budget, consider buying a bottle of Perrier Jouët’s Grand Brut NV. One of the region’s most prominent and respected Champagne houses, Perrier Jouët’s signature style encapsulates fresh and floral aromas: think orange blossom and aromatic honey. Its Grand Brut NV is indicative of this style, emanating fresh lemon, jasmine and green apple with sweet yellow plums and melon on the palate alongside a kiss of vanilla cream and oak. It has a gorgeously fine mousse (texture of the bubbles) which carries that iconic floral note throughout. Superbly delicate; either enjoy as an aperitif or pair it with creamy pasta or white fish.
- Style: Non-Vintage Champagne
- Produced in: Champagne, France
- ABV: 12.5% abv
- Size: 75cl
M&S Delacourt Brut Blanc de Blancs 2017
★★★★☆
Best: Champagne for pairing with ham or bacon dishes
What we love: Vintage Champagne at NV prices, and ripe fruity notes of peaches and citrus
Take note: Double check the vintage on the label
If you prefer your Champagne to be more fruit-forward than bready, give M&S’ Delacourt Blanc de Blancs a try. This 2017 vintage, made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, is bursting with ripe stonefruit and orange zest, with a buttery, flaky pastry note reminiscent of peach cobbler. With its gorgeously creamy texture, it’s incredibly moreish, and at just £35 for a vintage Champagne, you may well be tempted to reach for another bottle. I also recently tasted the 2018 vintage but buy a bottle of this if you like more complexity for your money.
- Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne
- Produced in : Champagne, France
- ABV: 12.5%
- Size: 75cl
Sainsbury's Blanc de Noirs Brut NV
★★★★☆
Best: Champagne for New Year’s Eve celebrations
What we love: Delicious range of ripe fruit flavours, and zesty and bright palate
Take note: It’s an easy sipper – there’s not a huge amount of depth
Sainsbury’s Blanc de Noirs uses the two black grapes used to make Champagne – Pinot Noir and Meunier, for its classic non-vintage expression, which is aged in bottle for at least 18 months. This is a lively, fruity number with a gorgeous nose full of strawberries and cream, and lime zest, which gives way to peach melba, stewed apples and a hint of digestive biscuit on the palate. Best suited to those who aren’t keen on the more bready styles of Champagne, and would make an impressive pour at a special party or New Year’s celebration.
- Style: Non-Vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne
- Produced in: Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut NV
★★★☆☆
Best: Everyday Champagne
What we love: Ripe flavours of strawberries and raspberries, lingering biscuity finish
Take note: It’s not particularly expressive
Waitrose’s Blanc de noirs is a red fruit-driven wine produced from 100 per cent Pinot Noir grapes exclusively for the supermarket by respected Champagne house Maison Bonnet. It opens on juicy raspberries and strawberries, with a hint of kiwi and lime, before delivering a rich note of shortcake biscuits that lingers on the finish. The flavours are wonderful, although you may find the nose and palate aren’t particularly expressive or complex. It’s more of an everyday Champagne (if there is such a thing).
- Style: Non-Vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne
- Produced in : Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
Waitrose Rosé Brut NV
★★★★☆
Best: Alternative for Laurent Perrier’s Rosé
What we love: Balance of juicy red fruits and earthy black pepper, and produced using the saignée method
Take note: Not as complex as LP Rosé but still a spectacular budget buy
If you’re a fan of Laurent Perrier Rosé, but not the price, meet your supermarket dupe. Waitrose’s version is also produced from 100 per cent Pinot Noir grapes that are macerated along with the juice to extract colour and flavour. It’s superbly aromatic, with cherry blossom, raspberries and ripe strawberries giving solid Eton Mess vibes. The palate is weightier and earthier than you’d think, with some light fruit-studded brioche and a touch of black pepper. It’s also miles ahead of Waitrose’s Blanc de Noirs, so if you’re going to buy one or the other, get the rosé.
- Style: Non-Vintage Rosé Champagne
- Produced in : Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
Champagne Telmont Réserve Rosé Brut Nature NV
★★★★☆
Best: For Autumnal day drinking with a cheeseboard
What we love: Light, fresh and fruity character, and crafted using sustainable and regenerative practices
Take note: The natural approach means it lacks the structure of some other Champagnes
Most Champagnes add a little sugar to balance out the acidity in their wines, but Telmont’s Brut Nature is quite simply au naturel. The omission of sugar is in keeping with the Champagne’s house’s approach to sustainable winemaking, with its admirable focus on sustainable and regenerative methods. Telmont’s Réserve Rosé is made using predominantly Chardonnay grapes with a small proportion of Meunier, for an aromatic and fruit-driven Champagne that’s full of raspberry leaf, red berries and a subtle hint of salted gingerbread.
- Style: Non-Vintage Rosé Champagne
- Produced in: Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne NV
★★★☆☆
Best: For aperitif moments calling for Champagne
What we love: Ayala’s refreshing brightness and beautiful balance through masterful blending techniques
Take note: Avoid pairing with heavy food which will overpower its delicacy
Ayala takes a minimal intervention approach to winemaking to preserve the delicate flavours and aromas of its grapes. Blended from 70 crus of multi-vintage wines with Chardonnay as the lead grape, Ayala’s Brut Majeur is subsequently crisp and bright, with fresh notes of green apples and pears, lemon zest and peach dancing alongside toasted brioche and almond biscotti. It’s relatively simple with a low dosage, but drinks like sunshine in a glass. Serve as a welcome drink for a wedding or special occasion.
- Style: Non-Vintage Champagne
- Produced in: Champagne, France
- ABV: 12.5%
- Size: 75cl
Fortnum & Mason Brut Reserve
★★★★★
Best: Champagne for pairing with a range of food
What we love: Its creamy and almost cake-like complexity, and an iconic collab between mega brand names
Take note: It’s obviously a Fortnums exclusive
Two of the world’s most iconic institutions have collaborated to produce what’s undoubtedly one of the best Champagne cuvées for under £50. Fortnum & Mason have called on the winemaking prowess of the renowned Louis Roederer to produce a non-vintage Champagne that’s fresh and bright with ripe peaches, apricots and just a hint of pineapple, with sweet brioche notes and a creamy, almost cake-like complexity. Naturally it’s a bottle that’s perfect paired with a range of foods, though I bet it’d be fab with fried chicken or seitan nuggets.
- Style: Non-Vintage Champagne
- Produced in: Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
Champagne Palmer & Co. La Réseve NV
★★★★☆
Best: Champagne for special occasions
What we love: Beautiful balance and elegance, delicate yet full of flavour
Take note: It often pushes beyond the £50 mark, so look around for a bargain
Palmer & Co’s La Resérve Champagne is built around the traditional concept of reserve wines – a blend of several vintages that provide depth and complexity to a house’s signature style. La Resérve comprises up to 35 per cent reserve wines, creating fabulous consistency that oozes notes of pear, apricot and a nutty biscuitiness. It’s a beautifully balanced, fruit-forward and elegant expression, a perfect welcome refresher for a celebratory occasion.
- Style: Non-Vintage Champagne
- Produced in : Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
Gosset Grand Reserve Brut
★★★★★
Best: Champagne for pairing with umami-rich food like steak or mushrooms
What we love: A bold palate full of ripe fruit and toasted bagels, and Gosset champions sustainable and organic practices
Take note: It’s not always available for under £50
The oldest maison in Champagne and the house pour at many a fine dining restaurant, Gosset Grand Reserve commands an almost cult-like following for its unctuously irresistible palate. Crafted using techniques that preserve the freshness of the Pinot Noir-led wine, the nose is somewhat shy, with delicate aromas of fresh orchard fruits, but in the mouth those flavours evolve and burst forth with marmalade, fruit preserves and toasted sultana bagels. This is a Champagne to savour, but if you were to pair it with food I’d opt for a salty, umami-rich dish that will heighten those fruit notes.
- Style: Non-Vintage Champagne
- Produced in : Champagne, France
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 75cl
What are the best Champagnes under £50?
It’s hard to imagine there’s much choice of Champagne below £50, but there are plenty of options that will make you and your guests extremely happy, and still leave you with change.
As for the best Champagne, it’s one that’s suited to the occasion, food and of course your palate, but ultimately it has to have balance, complexity of flavour and leave you gasping for more.
Read more: 10 best Waitrose wines for summer, according to a drinks expert
For me that’s Henriot’s Souverain NV, which has so much depth of flavour thanks to its careful blend of wines from 25 crus and four years of ageing. It’s the Champagne that left me hanging on to its fruity, creamy and bready finish, and had me hungrily diving back into the glass for another sip. It’s also incredible value for money.
Special mention also has to go to Tesco’s 2019 Blanc de Blancs – you won’t find a better vintage Champagne for the price – and Gosset Grand Reserve, which is a bottle I’d personally like to see respawn in my fridge on a regular basis (so long as I don’t have to pay for it).
Why trust me?
Becky Paskin is an award-winning drinks writer and presenter, with 20 years experience tasting, judging and speaking about all things booze. The only journalist in the world with a distilling qualification, she’s a regular lead judge for spirit competitions. You can find her writing about everything from whisky and cocktails to wine and travel in major magazines and newspapers, and regularly speaking about all the above on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. She also has a weekly newsletter, Drink This, pouring drinks, bar and travel recommendations and insight.
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