As the festive season approaches, the quest for the perfect celebratory fizz begins. To cut through the noise, we turned to a trusted authority: Lucy Hitchcock, founder of the popular platform Partner in Wine. Having tasted hundreds of bottles for her TikTok series '30 Days of Sparkling', Hitchcock has curated a definitive list of top-tier sparkling wines that promise quality and value, from supermarket steals to show-stopping splurges.
From Cava to Crémant: Budget-Friendly Brilliance
Hitchcock's selections prove that exceptional sparkling wine doesn't require a Champagne budget. Leading her value picks is the Codorniu 1872 Organic Cava Brut, available at Waitrose for around £8.50. 'If I was blindfolded, I’d never guess this was £8.50,' Hitchcock states, praising its smooth bubbles and delicate flavours of lemon, apple, and brioche.
Another standout is the Morrisons The Best Crémant de Limoux Rosé at £10. Sourced from one of the world's oldest sparkling wine regions in southern France, this rosé offers a sunny, vibrant profile of citrus and red fruits. Hitchcock recommends it as a superb, budget-conscious alternative to rosé Champagne.
For those seeking complexity, the Krone 'Borealis' Cuvée Brut from South Africa delivers. Priced at £15 and aged for 18 months, it presents fine, creamy bubbles with biscuity notes and a hint of sea-salt minerality, available at Majestic.
Step-Up Splendour: Mid-Range Marvels
Moving into the mid-range, Hitchcock highlights bottles offering 'festive luxury on a budget'. The Langlois-Chateau 'Classique' Crémant de Loire Brut, owned by Bollinger and aged for 24 months, impresses with concentrated flavours of citrus, peach, and almond croissant. It's another find from Majestic.
English sparkling wine continues its stellar rise, and Hitchcock champions Asquith Gardens English Sparkling Wine from Asda as a great-value entry point. Aged for a remarkable 60 months, it's crisp and smooth with notes of honeyed apple and white peach.
For rosé lovers, the Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé is a must. This South African sparkler, aged for four years, combines juicy red berry flavours with rich, bready notes. At £17 (often on offer for £14 at Waitrose), Hitchcock says it offers 'incredible depth and structure for the price'.
Premium Picks for a Showstopping Celebration
The list culminates with bottles designed for maximum festive impact. A hidden gem, according to Hitchcock, is the Casa Silva Fervor Del Lago Ranco Extra Brut from Chile. Aged for over four years, this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend offers serious Champagne-like complexity with creamy, bready notes and a stony finish. Find it at Laithwaites.
In the Champagne category, Hitchcock points to outstanding value with the Jean Philippe Moulin Champagne Blanc de Blancs, made by a former Ruinart head winemaker. This elegant wine, available from Naked Wines, moves from crisp green apple to baked apple pie and buttery croissant flavours.
The grand finale is Hitchcock's top-shelf recommendation: the Gusbourne Blanc de Noirs at £65. This gold medal-winning English sparkling wine, made from red grapes and aged for three years, is dry and refined with notes of cranberry, almond, and spiced French toast. 'Most importantly, it’s English,' Hitchcock affirms, cementing its status as a modern classic.
All wines on this expert-curated list are made using the traditional method, the same technique employed in Champagne, ensuring quality and classic elegance. For more discoveries, follow Partner in Wine on Instagram and TikTok @partnerinwineuk.
