29th November 2022 | Top Drops | 6 minute read
We’ve got some awesome inexpensive sparkling wines and budget Champagne here at Virgin Wines that’ll show you that a good bottle of bubbly doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, it’s even possible to get a bottle of fizz that’s made in the same way as an expensive Champagne for under £15! It’s all about knowing what to look for, and we’re about to give you the wine know-how to spot inexpensive sparkling wines of outstanding quality.
There are a few ways to spot very good quality, yet inexpensive, sparkling wines that’ll come in handy if you’re ever shopping for a special occasion on a budget.
Made using the same traditional method as Champagne, this expertly crafted Crémant is from the highly esteemed Loire region, using Loire Valley’s most expressive grape, Chenin Blanc. Chenin is blended with Champagne’s white grape ingredient, Chardonnay, to produce a traditional style French sparkling wine that has a special Loire twist.
Produced by Château Langlois, a winery of such great reputation that the Bollinger family bought a stake in it back in 1973, this is a top quality brut boasting bright acidity, a sophisticated palate of white orchard fruit and wet stone, and an elegant, fine mousse.
Chateau Langlois L’Extra Cremant de Loire Blanc de Blancs – £14.99
Here we have another incredible Crémant, this time from France’s cool Alsace region and made from Pinot Blanc. The relatively cool, continental climate of Alsace is key in Kuehn as it means crisp, racing acidity and a refreshing palate. It’s also made using the same traditional method as Champagne, so the bubbles are fine and pronounced.
Expect a creamy, effervescent body, citrus and green apple on the nose, and fresh pear and nuts on the palate. It’s cool, clean and complex, and a third of the price of an average bottle of Champagne. What’s not to like?
If you look outside of France, to other wine regions of the world that share a similar climate, you’re sure to find some cracking inexpensive sparkling wines that use traditional, Old World methods, but are available at a fraction of the price. Australia, for instance, is an awesome place to explore in your quest for budget bubbly.
Woolundry Road Sparkling South Australian Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut is a delicious, bone-dry Aussie Champagne blend. Giving the illusion of being much more expensive than it is, this brilliant brut has heaps of fruitiness on the nose and a vivacious texture. It’s an interesting, award-winning fizz that’s an all-round crowd-pleaser.
Woolundry Road Sparkling South Australian Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut NV – £14.99
Moving back to France, we have this delightful offering from the Bordeaux region. The Perles du Seuil Blanc NV is ultra exclusive, with only 100 cases made each year, giving you that feeling that you’re drinking something truly special from a world-class wine region (it just happens to be Bordeaux instead of Champagne!).
Lovely lifted lemon greets you on the nose, underpinned by enticing layers of baked pear and red apple aromas. The palate has a soft, fruity appeal, leaving you pining for another sip. And, with this beauty, you can sip away to your heart’s content at just £16.99 a bottle.
Perles du Seuil Blanc NV – £16.99
There are many divine Crémants out there, but it is hard to beat a bottle from the Loire Valley. The climate here really lends itself to sparkling wine production, allowing winemakers to craft crisp, refreshing sparklers with intriguing palates. One of the best examples we have of a Loire bubbly has got to be this offering from Domaine Baumard.
Made from old vine grapes, you’ll find an impressive depth of flavour and vibrant aromas that will make you forget all about Champagne. Fruity flavours of apple, pear and lemon join forces with complex nuances of flowers and spice, all thanks to the rich blue slate and sandstone soils that nourish the vines at Domaine Baumard.
Domaine Baumard Carte Turquoise Cremant de Loire NV – £16.99
If you like the crunchy texture and racy bubbles of Champagne, then get to know Cava. It’s Spain’s own take on the famous French fizz, and it’s bloody lovely! Just like Crémant, it’s made using the traditional Champagne method, so has the body and texture of a premium bubbly. The key difference with Cava is that the grapes in the blend are local Spanish varieties.
The Nu Allonge Cava Brut NV is a very modern Cava, possessing the complexity of Champagne and the drinkability of Prosecco. Expect quintessential bubbly notes of fresh citrus and biscuit, accompanied by toasted almond and candied lemon peel.
Nu Allonge Cava Brut – £12.99
Now, we couldn’t have an article about incredible yet inexpensive sparkling wines without giving special mention to Italy. We’re not just talking about Prosecco, though! If you look elsewhere in Italy, you’ll find a variety of brut styles and flavours, all at bargain prices.
Spumante is Italian sparkling wine with intense bubbles (while frizzante wine – which includes most Proseccos – has softer bubbles), and we’ve got a delightful one to show you. Boasting a crisp body and zesty lemon kick on the palate, the Solpiantez Spumante Brut Millesimato has everything you’d want in a premium brut, yet it’s priced at just over a tenner!
Solpiantez Spumante Brut Millesimato – £10.99
If you simply cannot tear yourself away from Champagne, we’ve got some beautiful, budget brut from the iconic region that’s priced at a slightly lower price, purely because the Champagne house is not a famous one. Champagne Gremillet Brut Selection is from a small, family-owned house that shares the same terroir, climate and production method as its big name neighbours, yet you can get a bottle for under £30!
With an impressive eight prestigious awards under its belt, this stunning Champagne boasts trademark notes of fresh floral aromas, bright citrus on the palate and classic yeast overtones of baked biscuit and toast. What’s more, these glorious flavours are richer than usual thanks to the vineyard’s southern latitude. When it comes to outstanding quality, budget Champagne, it really doesn’t get much better than this.
Champagne Gremillet Brut Selection – £29.99
