As the festive season reaches its peak, the pop of a Prosecco cork has become a familiar soundtrack in British homes. While Champagne remains the ultimate luxury, this Italian sparkling wine offers a far kinder option for the wallet. With the UK consuming a staggering 130-140 million bottles annually, making it the world's largest market, the supermarket shelves are brimming with choice. But which bottle offers the best bang for your buck?
The Great British Prosecco Taste-Off
To cut through the noise, we conducted a blind taste test of eight popular Proseccos from leading UK supermarkets, with prices ranging from £5.99 to £10.50. Each was judged on taste, effervescence, and overall value for money, receiving a final score out of five. The results held a notable surprise.
From Top Tier to Disappointing Drops
Starting at the higher end, Tesco's Finest Prosecco Valdobbiadene Docg (£10) presented bold pear and peach flavours with a zesty lime finish, earning a solid 3.5/5. M&S's offering (£8), crafted by Loris Bonotto, was aromatic and crisp but lost its fizz a little quickly, also scoring 3.5/5. The most expensive, Morrisons' La Gioiosa Prosecco Brut at £10.50, delivered a bold, high-quality taste but required some acclimatisation, landing another 3.5/5.
In the mid-range, Sainsbury's Edizione 789 Prosecco (£7) stood out as fresh, fruity, and incredibly easy to drink, securing a strong 4/5. Aldi's Organic Prosecco DOC (£6.99) was light, sweet, and mellow, pleasing the palate for a 3.5/5 score. However, Asda's Exceptional Prosecco Brut (£6.92) proved too sharp and acidic for our taster, resulting in a low score of 2.5/5.
The budget contenders sparked real interest. Lidl's Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry (£5.99) was rich but lacked fizz and left a slight aftertaste, scoring 3/5. But the star of the show emerged from an unexpected aisle.
The Surprise Champion
The clear winner, with an impressive 4.5 out of 5, was the Co-op Irresistible Prosecco. At just £6.50 per bottle, it was not only cheaper than Aldi's entry but also outshone every other contender, including those costing nearly double.
Our taster praised its delicate notes of stone fruits, pear, citrus, and berries, complemented by a lovely crisp finish that made it exceptionally easy to drink. It was noted as one of the few bottles they were keen to have more than one glass of, truly earning its title as a 'real star of the pack' and justifying its history of awards.
Verdict: Quality Fizz Doesn't Demand a High Price
This taste test conclusively proves that a higher price tag does not guarantee a better Prosecco. While several options performed admirably, the Co-op's Irresistible Prosecco demonstrated that exceptional value, award-winning quality, and delightful drinkability can all be found in a bottle costing well under £7. For your next celebration, the path to impressive fizz may be simpler and cheaper than you think.
