Champagne Alternatives: Different Takes On the Famous Bubbly

There are many regions across the globe, such as England, that share a similar climate to the Champagne region, meaning sparkling wine produced here can possess many of the qualities you’d find in a bottle of premium Champers, but with a subtle English twist. So we think it’s a shame to not explore these sparkling gems that are hiding in plain sight.

There are so many reasons why you should be considering these fantastic Champagne blends from other parts of the world. Not only are they exquisite, but it’s only logical to find new favourites to turn to when we have a year where Champagne is hard to get hold of (such as this year – which is partly due to Champagne Houses selling a huge amount of their wine to bars, restaurants and hotels after restrictions were lifted, leaving less for supermarkets and retailers to get their hands on in time for the festive season).

So, without further ado, here are five of the finest Champagne alternatives we think you’ll fall in love with this Christmas and New Year – and may even knock your go-to Champagne off its top spot for good!

If you’re a lover of Champagne and someone who’s also passionate about shopping locally, then English wine regions could well become your new favourite destination for elegant, premium sparkling wine.

Sharing a similar climate to the Champagne region, areas of southern England such as Sussex are sweet spots for producing Champagne alternatives that rival the real deal. Expect lively bubbles and crisp acidity due to England’s cooler climate and chalky terroir, along with fresh fruit flavours from the Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir in the blend (the exact same trio of grapes used to make Champagne).

Henners Foxearle English Sparkling Brut 2016 is an absolutely stunning example of Champagne-style sparkling wine that’s available on our doorstep. Made using the traditional French production method, this is as close as it gets to home-grown Champers, offering a sensational palate of red apple, red berry, lemon nougat and orchard fruit. Floral aromas add a nice delicate touch, while some ageing adds creaminess and more complex aromas of brioche, biscuit and almond. It’s absolutely divine!

Many of us who enjoy the crisp acidity and dry palate of a fine Champagne occasionally turn to Cava to mix things up a bit (rather than something like Prosecco).

Produced in the Spanish wine region of Catalunya since 1872 when a local winemaker was inspired by a trip to France, Cava has become a popular Champagne alternative in many bars and restaurants. It’s made in the exact same way, so shares a very similar body and style to its famous French counterpart – however, local grape varieties are used rather than the trio of grapes you find in Champagne’s vineyards, so this version of bubbly is pretty unique to Spain.

Nu Allonge Cava Brut NV is beautifully clean and refreshing. Offering that trademark crunchy acidity we love in a bottle of brut, this is dry and rich, but with the drinkability of a Prosecco. Expressing delicious notes of candied lemon peel, grapefruit, biscuit, pastry and toasted almond, it’s a really lovely take on Champagne (minus the price tag!).

If you simply can’t bring yourself to veer away from France when it comes to premium sparkling wine, then Crémant is the one for you.

It’s the name given to French sparkling wine that’s made outside of the Champagne region, although uses the same production method. Just like Champagne, Crémant tends to be made using Pinot Noir, however its other primary grapes break away from tradition. In French wine regions such as Loire, you’ll find that Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc often join Pinot Noir. While in Bordeaux you’ll come across Sauvignon Blanc-based blends.

Domaine Baumard Carte Turquoise Cremant de Loire NV is a classic example of a Loire Crémant of exceptional quality. Made from old vine grapes, it has a real depth of flavour and pronounced aromas that make you feel as though you’re drinking something rather special. Laced with bright flavours of lemon, apple and pear, accompanied by floral and spicy nuances on the nose, this bubbly has a wonderful finesse thanks to the blue slate and sandstone terroir of the region.

Anyone who enjoys the refreshing palate and superb structure of a top-notch NZ white wine will immediately see how New Zealand wine regions could provide the perfect conditions for an outstanding New World version of Champagne.

Pinot Noir (one of the key ingredients in Champers) is a notoriously fussy grape, and demands the weather and soil to be just right in order to grow. New Zealand is one of the lucky areas of the globe that can grow first-class Pinot Noir, so it makes total sense for winemakers out there to be creating their own Champagne blends.

Cloudy Bay Pelorus NV is a name that’s recognised the world over. Known by most of us for their magnificent Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay have, once again, shown that they are at the top of their game with this sensational sparkler. Displaying classic lemon and apple aromas, lashings of creaminess and bready notes from ageing, and a nutty finish to die for, this has everything you’d look for in a Champagne alternative.

Finally, we head to the wine regions of South Australia for another New World take on French bubbly.

Sharing many similarities with its neighbour New Zealand, it may come as no surprise that Australia is another country where Pinot Noir thrives. Areas of South Australia offer a slightly cooler climate, which is essential for producing acidic sparkling wines, and local winemakers have certainly taken note of this.

Woolundry Road Sparkling South Australian Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut NV is a delightful Aussie Champagne blend. Bone dry and nice and lively in texture, this is a bubbly that gives the illusion of being much more expensive than it is. The main difference to Champagne is how fruity this is on the nose, but what else would you expect from an Australian wine? Full of fruity flavours of apple and melon, this is very much an easy-drinking alternative to Champagne.

Champagne Alternatives for Christmas

Yes, we still, and always will, have endless love for Champagne at Christmas – but hopefully this blog has shown you that there are so many truly stunning Champagne alternatives out there that rival France’s most famous fizz! So, why not try something a little different (although, just as divine) this festive season for those special cork-popping moments!