The 10 Best Champagnes Under £30
From The Supermarket
Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Non-Vintage, £29
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: This one is quite crisp and citrusy in style, with notes of lemon, pear and added pastry nuances throughout. Don’t worry, it still has a refreshing finish.
Why I like it: This iconic champagne is one of the most recognisable and popular labels in the world – and with its fresh elegance, it’s easy to see why.
Pair it with: This champagne is a wonderful brunch companion – perfect for popping open on Christmas morning and enjoying with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and presents.
Available here
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut Non-Vintage, £25
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: On first sip, you’ll taste ripe apple and yellow pear, with hints of almond, cashews and a touch of fresh lemon.
Why I like it: This classic champagne is a real crowd-pleaser, with an ideal balance between textured orchard fruit flavours and lively acidity on the finish.
Pair this with: Perfect for sitting around the fire with family and festive snacks – think pigs in blankets, devils on horseback and homemade blinis.
Lanson Le Rosé Brut Non-Vintage, £30
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: This one is elegant and refreshing, with notes of rose, subtle strawberry and raspberry – all enveloped in a delicious creamy mousse.
Why I like it: Rosé champagne always feels like such a treat. The fresh red berry notes make this bottle such a great pairing with food.
Pair this with: A classic afternoon tea has to be one of the best pairings here. Tuck into fingers sandwiches, a couple of scones, and mini berry tarts to match perfectly with the fruity notes in the rosé.
Independent Names
Henri Dosnon Brut Sélection Non-Vintage, £22.99
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: This one is fruity and ripe – think red apple, quince, fleshy peach and lemon pith. At the finish, you’ll taste a note of fresh pastries.
Why I like it: Produced by a micro-négociant, this is an exquisitely crafted, superb quality champagne at a shockingly good price point. Buy it now before it sells out.
Pair it with: A delightful aperitif choice to enjoy with buttery nocellara olives, baked camembert and parmesan straws. Ideal for a small drinks gathering – if we’re allowed!
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs Cuis Premier Cru Brut Non-Vintage, £29
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: Sweet, sweet, sweet: for me, it’s reminiscent of lemon curd, white peach and freshly baked croissants – but still with a vibrant mineral finish.
Why I like it: This blanc de blancs champagne is made entirely from white chardonnay grapes, which results in a well-structured, precise and refreshing style of sparkling wine.
Pair it with: An excellent pairing with white fish dishes such as halibut, seabass and monkfish, especially when served with a lemon butter sauce. A great main course pour.
Barnaut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Brut Non-Vintage, £27.95
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: This one is full textured, with notes of ripe grapefruit, red apple, brioche and a hint of red cherry fruit.
Why I like it: This blanc de noirs champagne is made entirely from red pinot noir grapes, resulting in a rounded and rich style of sparkling wine.
Pair it with: With its depth of texture and complexity of flavours, this champagne is an excellent match for hearty poultry dishes like chicken tarragon – it could even be your festive fizz of choice for your Christmas turkey.
Ayala Brut Nature Zero Dosage Non-Vintage, £29.50
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: A warning – this champagne is very dry, with notes of lemon and white flowers, with a distinct mineral freshness and bright acidity.
Why I like it: ‘Zero dosage’ or ‘Brut nature’ styles of champagne have zero added sugar, so in theory, they should be much kinder to your waistline – perfect for those who enjoy a really crisp and refreshing style of sparkling wine.
Pair it with: With its delicate flavours, this champagne is a good pairing with fresh seafood – like oysters on the rocks, shellfish platters, sushi, sashimi and caviar.
Pannier ‘Seduction’ Demi-Sec Non-Vintage, £30
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: Luscious, and with a full texture and a distinct sweetness, here you’ll taste notes of baked apricots, toasted almonds and honey.
Why I like it: Demi-sec champagnes have noticeable residual sugar and are a wonderfully indulgent and delicious style of sparkling wine. Today, however, they are made in small quantities as worldwide taste trends have leaned towards drier varieties.
Pair it with: Excellent with all sorts of festive desserts, this one will work beautifully with a cheese board, too. The combination of the sweetness of the champagne with the saltiness of the cheese is pretty hard to beat.
Vintage
2010 Nicolas Feuillatte Vintage Collection Brut, £27.99
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: Unctuous and creamy, you’re bound to notice notes of ripe apricot, baked apple pie and honeysuckle in this sip.
Why I like it: Having been aged for ten years, this vintage champagne will have started to develop beautifully concentrated and rich notes, making it a great pairing with heavier, more gastronomic dishes.
Pair it with: In short, anything with truffle. The intensity of this champagne matches well with the richness of flavour found in truffles, while the acidity and hint of honey will lift the umami quality.
2011 Heidsieck & Co Monopole Gold Top Brut, £29.99
Country: Champagne, France
Tastes like: This one is so reminiscent of sweet treats like lemon meringue pie, gingernut biscuits with delicious toasty and buttery notes and a fine mousse.
Why I like it: This vintage champagne has incredibly complex and layered flavours, and provides such great quality for the price.
Pair it with: This is such a versatile bottle that you could easily use throughout the year, not just at Christmas. Pair it with rich seafood and creamy or cheesy dishes such as lobster mac and cheese, a luxurious fish pie, or a hot crab gratin.
Follow @TheLondonWineGirl for more of Charlotte’s wine recommendations.
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