As the festive season hits its stride, the pop of a Prosecco cork is a familiar sound in British homes. With the UK consuming a staggering 130-140 million bottles each year, making it the world's largest market, the choice on supermarket shelves can be overwhelming. To cut through the fizz, we conducted a blind taste test of eight popular bottles, ranging from £5.99 to £10.50, to find the best value bubbly.
The Contenders: From Budget to Premium
The tasting panel assessed each Prosecco on taste, effervescence, and overall value for money, awarding an overall score out of five. The line-up included offerings from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Morrisons, Co-op, Asda, and Lidl.
Starting at the higher end, Tesco Finest Prosecco Valdobbiadene Docg (£10) offered bold pear and peach flavours with a zesty finish, scoring a solid 3.5. M&S Prosecco (£8), crafted by Loris Bonotto, was aromatic and crisp but lost its fizz a little quickly, also earning a 3.5. Morrisons' La Gioiosa Prosecco Brut (£10.50) impressed with its quality bubbles and bold taste, securing another 3.5.
Strong Performers and Mid-Range Options
Sainsbury's Edizione 789 Prosecco (£7) was fresh, fruity, and incredibly easy to drink, providing excellent value and a score of 4. Aldi's Organic Prosecco DOC (£6.99) was a light, sweet, and mellow option that scored 3.5, pleasing many palates. However, Asda's Exceptional Prosecco Brut (£6.92) was found to be too sharp and acidic for some, resulting in a lower score of 2.5. Lidl's Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (£5.99) was rich but less fizzy than expected, receiving a 3.
The Surprise Winner: A Budget Champion
The standout performer of the test was the Co-op Irresistible Prosecco, priced at just £6.50 or £1.08 a glass. This award-winning fizz delighted tasters with its delicate notes of stone fruits, pear, and berries, coupled with a lovely crisp finish. It was noted as being so moreish that our tester wanted more than one glass. With a top score of 4.5 out of 5, it not only triumphed on taste but also undercut Aldi's popular offering on price, proving that the best bubble isn't always the most expensive.
The results show that savvy shoppers don't need to spend a fortune for a quality festive fizz. While several supermarkets offered commendable bottles, the Co-op's Irresistible range delivered a winning combination of flavour, fizz, and outstanding value, making it the clear winner of this supermarket showdown.
