Drinks expert Becky Paskin has highlighted Crémant as a high-quality, affordable alternative to Champagne, recommending a £12.99 bottle from Sainsbury's for celebrations.
Why Crémant rivals Champagne
While celebrations once called for Laurent-Perrier, Veuve Clicquot or Moët & Chandon, wine lovers are increasingly turning to supermarket shelves. The Champagne market has democratised in recent years, with Aldi and Lidl both winning awards for their fizz, while alternatives like Crémant offer high quality at a fraction of the price.
“If you’re after a Champagne dupe that offers fantastic value, seek out Crémant,” Paskin recommends. This expression is “made using the same ‘méthode traditionelle’ but outside the region of Champagne and with different grape varieties.”
The £12.99 supermarket pick
Widely considered to be just as good as Champagne, Crémant is produced in wine regions across France and in Luxembourg. Bottles tend to have a slightly fruitier, lighter style while rivalling the fine bubbles and dry, complex flavour profile of Champagne.
Paskin suggests the Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Crémant de Loire NV, priced at £12.99. She describes it as excellent value for money with beautiful, balanced flavours, noting there are eight Crémant appellations to choose from.
Tasting notes and details
“This stunner in Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range is from the Loire and produced from a blend of 85 per cent Chenin and 15 per cent Chardonnay, with the wine aged on lees for twice the appellation minimum for additional complexity and elegance. Expect to find Crémant de Loire’s signature lemon and quince flavours mingling with rounded biscuity notes and a beautiful creaminess. It’s a bottle worthy of any celebration.”
The wine is a Crémant de Loire, produced in Loire, France, with an ABV of 12% and a size of 75cl. Paskin's expert roundup of the best Champagne for under £50 also delivers on affordability and flavour.
