The words ‘cheap’ and ‘Champagne’ are rarely seen together, and for good reason.
France’s premium sparkling wine has long been the one to which all others are measured, so naturally it comes at a price.
Produced in the French region of the same name, grapes here are grown in optimal conditions and on vineyards owned by grand Maisons whose history stretches back a good couple of centuries - or more. It’s a luxury serve that gets poured for life’s landmark moments: big birthdays, weddings, graduations, new arrivals, Christmases or other major religious holidays where appropriate.
This enviable position at the apex of the sparkling wine pedestal means that most of us know forking out for a bottle of the good stuff is part of the whole Champagne-quaffing experience. If you’re looking for cheaper price points, Italy’s Prosecco is a huge hit with Britons (with London sitting slap-bang in the centre of the country’s “Prosecco belt”), while Spanish Cava is cheaper still with bottles to be found on shelves for well under a tenner. English sparkling wine, considered by many as the closest tasting to France’s elixir, is fast becoming one of the UK’s greatest food and drink exports as the climate in the southeast hots up every year.
And still, Champagne, sold on heritage, pomp and prestige, is considered the best and finest. So is there any hope for those on a budget looking for a premium bottle that won’t knock their finances completely sideways?
There is hope, but it very much depends on your idea of ‘budget’. While some options from the most prestigious Champagne houses can go at the higher end of the triple-figure bracket, choose a NV, or non-vintage, from one of the larger producers and you might strike gold for anywhere between £30 - £50.
Around big occasions, like Christmas, New Year and Easter, you can find luxury bottles at cheaper prices as retailers hold huge sales across food and drink to shift their stock and make way for new. Our advice is: if you see a top bottle marked down to a stupendous low, buy as many as possible to invest in good times later down the line.
If you’re looking for cheaper Champagne, stop the search because we’re here to help. We’ve sniffed out the best options at wallet-pleasing prices that will have you raising a toast to your good fortune (and our nifty research).
Shop the top of the (cheaper) pops now
Piper Heidsieck Brut 75cl
If ever there was an argument to sign up for Tesco's free loyalty programme, the chasm of difference in the price of booze might be it. Without a Clubcard, this bottle of Piper Heidsieck would set you back a handsome £39, but with one it's just £25. You can't turn your nose up at a saving of £14, especially for a brand this good.
Buy now £25.00, Tesco
Taittinger Brut Reserve Non Vintage Champagne 75cl
Rumoured to be 007's fizz of choice, Taittinger's bubbles are some of the finest, and famously priciest, around. Opt for a non-vintage though and you can have a taste of the good life for just over the £30 mark at Waitrose. Made Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, the Brut Réserve is velvety with a stream of fine bubbles and a crisp finish. In other words, perfect for toasting big occasions.
Buy now £32.99, Waitrose
G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Non Vintage Champagne
A bottle that looks as impressive as it tastes, the grand stature of a bottle of Mumm means its welcome at any party. This is a serve filled with fresh fruit notes before it descends into warm pastry and honey flavours. A nice aperitif to pair with seafood canapes.
Buy now £28.99, Waitrose
Waitrose Champagne Blanc de Noirs
Proving that it pays to consider supermarket's own-brand Champagne is Waitrose. Its bottle of Blanc de Noirs is made from a small producer in the southernmost part of Champagne and uses a mix of black grapes to craft a serve brimming with ripe fruit flavours and biscuity notes.
Buy now £23.99, Waitrose
Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut, 75cl
Moët, but not at the price you know it. Look, we never claimed to pen poetry here, but if there’s a chance to make you smile, we’re there. And there’s nothing that will bring a grin to your chops faster than finding this bottle for a very decent £35.89.
Buy now £35.89, Amazon
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, 75cl
Owned by LVMH, it’s one of the biggest Champagne houses around and is named for the widow of the company’s heir, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (Veuve Clicquot means ‘Widow Clicquot’). The Yellow Label is the classic bottle to reach for, and is available in a personalised gift box, making it even more special for big occasions.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Pommery Champagne Brut Royal
A little bit of a dark horse, if you find this bottle on offer, you should jump on it - fast. The crisp flavours make for a refreshing serve that pairs well with light dishes like salad and starters. Extra points for the smart box it comes in too: this would make a most welcome gift.
Buy now £32.00, Asda
Champagne Lanson
Founded in 1760, Champagne Lanson is a famous Champagne house based in Reims and is perhaps best regarded for its Black Label cuvee, its flagship sparkling wine. Hawk eyed drinkers will notice the Maltese cross on the label; it’s there because the founder’s son had ties to the Hospitaller’s Order of Malta, thought to be the oldest charity in the world, founded in 1048. For Lanson, the cross now represents openness, kindness and hospitality.
The core range includes the renowned Black Label, a fresh and sweet White Label, a fruity and delicate Le Rosé, Le Blancs de Blancs and Le Black Réserve, a full and fresh non-vintage Brut.
Buy now £39.00, Tesco
