Lidl has won three top sparkling wine titles at this year's World Drinks Awards: World's Best Champagne, World's Best Prosecco and World's Best Crémant. The three bottles beat luxury Champagne houses and renowned brands in blind taste tests carried out by industry experts.
Lidl has kept prices low while maintaining high taste and quality, and two of the three winning bottles cost less than £10. I sampled each of them, and one stood out above the rest.
World's Best Prosecco
Lidl's World's Best Prosecco is the Allini Valdobbiadene Conegliano Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry DOCG, priced at £7.99. Experts recognised it for delicate kiwi notes, soft fruitiness and "fluffy bubbles".
It lived up to the description. The fruitiness gave it an enjoyable sweetness, and the bubbles were not overpowering, unlike those in some other proseccos. For me, it has everything you would want from a prosecco, and the price is very hard to beat. I will be reaching for it next time I buy a bottle.
World's Best Champagne
At the highest price point is Lidl's Champagne Bissinger & Co. Premier Cru at £24.99. It took the World's Best Champagne title and was praised for "elegant peach and sherbet lemon notes", hints of elderflower and a "beautifully fine mousse". The judges described it as "elegantly complex without being loud" and ideal as an apéritif or alongside grilled seafood and shellfish.
I fully agreed with the judges. The champagne was bubbly and light, with a wonderful texture. The flavouring was delicate, and I did not find it sweet despite the fruity notes. It can be enjoyed at a picnic, garden gathering or summer evening, and its price means it does not need to be saved only for special occasions.
World's Best Crémant
Lidl's hat-trick was completed by the Marquis de Plagne Crémant de Loire AOC Brut, priced at £8.99. It was named the World's Best Crémant and has fresh apricot aromas, a crisp citrus character and vibrant lime notes.
This was my favourite of the three. It was wonderfully fuzzy and bubbly, neither too sweet nor with a harsh twang, and perfectly balanced to sip away on. I am already eyeing up a trip to Lidl to buy another bottle.
