
I tested all the supermarket Champagne for under £20 – Aldi winner was £5 cheaper than Sainsbury's bubbly
You simply don't get better champagne bang for your buck than our winner
TOP OF THE POPS I tested all the supermarket Champagne for under £20 – Aldi winner was £5 cheaper than Sainsbury's bubbly
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
WHEN it comes to popping the cork on a bottle of real French bubbly, don't think you have to splash out a fortune for a famous bottle brand.
Some of the best fizz can be found on supermarket shelves for bargain prices.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
10
Great French champagne doesn't have to cost a fortune - thanks to your local supermarket
Credit: Getty
10
Wine expert Helena Nicklin samples what is on offer in the supermarkets for less than £20 and gives her verdicts
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Aldi's Veuve Monsigny was voted the world's best champagne, despite costing just £14.95 a bottle.
But it is not the only budget champers worth sipping.
Wine expert Helena Nicklin samples what is on offer in the supermarkets for less than £20 and gives her verdicts.
Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut NV
£14.95 Aldi
10
Award-winning champagne that delivers rich, complex flavours without the high price tag
Credit: supplied
THIS corker has been top of the pops among wine writers for ages, with plenty of us singing its praises.
And following its triumph at the World Champagne Awards, that is now official.
Key fizz grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are blended together to create these bubbles but the real surprise is the depth of those spiced brioche and baked apple flavours.
A delicious flute that proves you don't have to spend a fortune on a famous name.
You simply don't get better champagne bang for your buck than this.
Stock up now for the summer, while you still can.
5/5
Wine expert taste tests the newest supermarket dupe of Whispering Angel
Etienne Dumont Champagne Brut NV
£14.95 Sainsbury's
10
A good standby supermarket-saver bottle or one to grab any time when you want real bubbly without a bonkers price tag
Credit: supplied
A FROTHY French fizz, this classic champagne blend is not a bad budget option to consider for less than 15 quid.
In your flute, this will give you a little almond, a little green apple and a little toast flavour. It also has a satisfyingly deep colour.
In the mouth, though, it's maybe just a tad weedy and thin, with bubbles that don't last as long as they could.
But it's a perfect candidate for champagne cocktails and at this price, it works.
A good standby supermarket-saver bottle or one to grab any time when you want real bubbly without a bonkers price tag.
2/5
Henri Cachet Champagne Brut NV
£14.98 Asda
10
Affordable and approachable, this creamy champagne offers fresh pastry notes and smooth vanilla aromas—ideal for celebrations without the hefty price
Credit: supplied
ASDA's cheaper champers is a gentle, mid-way style that should keep everyone happy.
Well below the price of a bottle of any famous branded fizz, this froth is soft and creamy.
It is more about fresh pastry flavours than tart and tangy apple and has a lovely, almost vanilla-like aroma.
Perhaps less complex than some fizzes at the same price. But that isn't a problem because it's still highly gluggable even when enjoyed alone.
Perfect for parties, nicely chilled, or any special occasion where you would like to raise a glass of the real thing but don't fancy breaking the bank.
3/5
Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut NV
£9.99, Lidl in store
10
Not, perhaps, the most refined of French fizzes, with its savoury, clunky mineral notes and a whiff of something like cheese rind, but there's a lot of flavour there
Credit: supplied
THESE bubbles have done well for Lidl, for good reason.
And currently reduced from £13.99 to £9.99, they are a serious bargain.
What you get here is not perhaps the poshest or most refined of French fizzes, with its savoury, clunky mineral notes and a whiff of something like cheese rind, but there's a lot of flavour there.
And of course you are still popping the cork on a bottle of the real deal.
For me, this is one to serve well chilled and sip with party canapés – or some nibbles and snacks if you are drinking at home, to soften it up a bit.
A tasty tipple and great value for your hard-earned money.
3/5
Louis Delaunay Brut Champagne NV
£15, Tesco
10
Super value for money, this delivers a proper champers experience, loaded with all the toasty apple goodness you could ever want
Credit: supplied
HATS off to French fizz-maker Louis Delaunay and Tesco for managing to bring this in at such an affordable price.
Super value for money, this delivers a proper champers experience, loaded with all the toasty apple goodness you could ever want.
It's a lovely golden colour, too, so looks pretty in the glass.
The only downside for me is a slight lack of freshness on the finish. Nothing a good chill can't sort out, though.
Get this one nice and cold in the fridge before you pop the cork and celebrate what a bargain you've bought. Great as a present, too.
4/5
Pol Guyot Selection Champagne Brut NV
£19, Sainsbury's
10
Think plenty of apple flavour, with a bit of toast and butter for that exclusive feel
Credit: supplied
I'M a big fan of this fizz, for just under 20 quid, and also love how the 'Pol' nods to the more glamorous and pricey Pol Roger brand for a luxe vibe.
It's a proper bargain, which tastes more expensive than it is.
Definitely a step up in superiority from those £15 club fizzes, for only an extra £4.
Think plenty of apple flavour, with a bit of toast and butter for that exclusive feel.
The finish on this sparkling treat packs a subtly bitter kick that might not be for everyone, so that's something to bear in mind.
But this is a serious sipper for the price, nonetheless.
4/5
Louvel Fontaine Champagne Brut NV
£18.48 Asda
10
It's a properly posh-seeming drink that will take you from aperitifs though canapés and even on to a main course, should you like
Credit: supplied
DON'T be fooled into thinking that because the bottle looks less fancy, the fizz inside may disappoint.
Well-known names and glitzy labels are fine but it's the froth in your flute that counts – and this tipple seriously overdelivers for the price.
Despite costing less than 20 quid, it stays crisp and fresh as you drink, while loaded with hazelnut, brioche and citrus flavour.
It's a properly posh-seeming drink that will take you from aperitifs though canapés and even on to a main course, should you like.
Great for parties, gifting, toasts, a night in or anything you fancy really. It's often on offer, too, so keep checking. A real off-the-radar gem.
5/5
Nicolas de Montbart Champagne Brut NV
£13.99 Aldi
10
Think soft, bruised apples and a sprinkling of chopped almonds when you sip – but it could do with increased acidity to balance things up
Credit: supplied
ANOTHER French fizz from Aldi at a very affordable price.
It's great that the supermarket chain has sourced a back-up champagne for when its prize-winning Veuve Monsigny dries up, and this is a decent drop.
But the taste is just a little bit generic for my liking, and noticeably sweet.
Think soft, bruised apples and a sprinkling of chopped almonds when you sip – but it could do with increased acidity to balance things up.
One for cocktails rather than sipping on its own, in my opinion.
So a great option for those summer party Kir Royals and knocking up a tasty Buck's Fizz.
2/5
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
I tried Gen Z's new favourite pre-drink that's only £2.99 from Aldi
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more If you haven't heard of BuzzBallz, you might want to lift up that cocktail umbrella you've been living under. These vibrant boozy balls have gone more viral than videos of cats with Hitler moustaches back in the day. My TikTok FYP is groaning under the weight of posts featuring people tasting, collecting and ranking their favourite flavours, while discarded neon-coloured plastic spheres litter the pavements outside off-licences like forgotten memory orbs in the Disney movie, Inside Out. Why are they causing such a stir? Like the recent Labubu craze, they feature the perfect storm of cutesy, eye-catching packaging. But instead of a little monster with spiky teeth, in this instance it disguises some fairly potent pours, containing between 13.5 and 15% ABV. Factor in that the spherical cocktails have the convenience of nesting in the palm of your drinking hand and there's a ring pull for dangerously easy access and it's not hard to work out why they've become Gen Z's go-to pre-drink. The other main draw is that they're cheap – costing just £2.99 each if you buy them from Aldi. Elsewhere they're a little pricier at £3.95 from Sainsbury's and £4 at Tesco. Pretty much every corner shop stocks them too, but be warned you might find yourself paying as much as £5 per ball, depending where you buy them from. I will say, for something so ubiquitous, they were almost impossible to get hold of for a taste test. For the last month, every off-licence I've visited has told me they'd 'recently run out' and the nearest Aldi had fully sold out too. I'm beginning to think they withhold them from people over 40, ahem I mean, 35. When you do eventually manage to get hold of them, they come in a decent range of flavours, from Choc Tease, Chili Mango, Lotta Colada, Espresso Martini, Tequila Rita and Strawberry Rita. There's also a Pornstar Martini, but alas, it's so popular we couldn't get hold of one. So, the obvious next step is for me to try the drink that's lured the famously dry Gen Z crowd into profligate ways. I've been warned about the sugar content of these deceptively punchy little globes, ranging from 11.7 to 30g per serving. Given the NHS recommends no more than 30g of sugar per day, it's goodbye wellness and hello tooth decay, blood sugar issues, energy spikes and crashes, oh and weight gain. The things I do for Metro readers. Here they are, in order of preference, and remember to shake them well before opening… A pretty decent Piña Colada, actually, and I'm not even a fan of the cocktail. Creamy and tropical with a generous thwack of alcohol to offset any coconut-cream-pineapple soupiness Not a bad expression of the classic cocktail on the tin, with an intriguing smoky, bonfire note that makes it a bit different. Chocolatey, smooth, sweet and creamy. Can't complain, but isn't it really just Bailey's? Sweet and creamy, like a boozy Solero ice cream (more generic tropical fruit than overtly mango) with a decent kick of chili heat that really comes through You can actually taste the tequila here, a novelty for an RTD cocktail in my experience (MOTH excluded). Think a very sweet Margarita and you're in the right ballpark. View More » Strawberry slushy-flavoured (or Mr Frosty, remember those?). Very candied and artificial-tasting, though its evident booze content salvages it slightly. If you count yourself a purveyor of the finer things in life, Metro's Drink Up column is where you need to be. Immerse yourself in the world of good drink, fronted by industry expert Rob Buckhaven – a place for readers to whet their whistle with the latest and greatest in the world of drinks. From unpacking the best supermarket wines from Aldi, Tesco and Lidl, to introducing audiences to the wallet-friendly Cremant out-bubbling the fanciest of French Champagnes (or the best wines to drink after sex), and finding out what it's like to go on a bar crawl with Jason Momoa, this is a haven for those who love to celebrate. Stay ahead of the curve as Rob plucks from the vines the wines of the season and the spirits you need to know about; speaking with experts and mixologists while unpacking the latest concoctions, finding the best non-alcoholic options for those looking to moderate, discovering the best food pairings for your drops, and going up against the latest TikTok chatter to demystify the liquid landscape. What are the best drinks to take to a summer picnic? Wine that you should never serve at a wedding And, truly, how should we be storing our wine? Read More. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: The weird and wonderful ways you can cure a Glastonbury hangover MORE: 10 of London's best rooftop bars for summer MORE: Morrisons customers have until Sunday to claim £30 of freebies Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.


Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I was KICKED OUT of Dubai and had my £3,000 glam holiday ruined over my face tattoos – despite being allowed in before
Jordan said he was 'terrified' as he was not given his passport back for some time TATT'S NOT FAIR I was KICKED OUT of Dubai and had my £3,000 glam holiday ruined over my face tattoos – despite being allowed in before Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HEAVILY-inked Brit has vowed to never return to Dubai after claiming he got kicked out for plastering his face in tattoos. Jordan Howman, 34, said he had his passport confiscated and was held by airport workers for six hours before being given the boot - ruining his £3,000 holiday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Jordan Howman, 34, says he was kicked out of Dubai because of his face tattoos Credit: SWNS 4 The dad said it ruined his holiday with his partner Theresa Credit: SWNS The plasterer, from Crewe, Cheshire, covered his face in tattoos of geometric cubes and words including "blessed" and "crazy life" almost a decade ago. Jordan said his ink addiction hadn't caused him any issues during his previous two trips to his "favourite country in the world", the UAE. The dad told The Sun: "My missus has been crying her eyes out. "It has absolutely devastated me. I feel like I've been massively discriminated against. Read more about Dubai BOT TAKEOVER World's first AI government minister to join cabinet in Dubai in 2026 'There's no law against face tattoos - there's nothing like that. "I'm a lovely lad, I get on with anyone. It's made me feel absolutely rubbish. I'm not allowed in a country because of the way I look. It's properly, massively affected me. 'It was my favourite country, but this has absolutely ruined it. Now I'll never go again. I've lost all of my money because of a pattern on my face.' Jordan landed at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday for a dream week-long holiday with his fiancée Theresa, 38, and daughter Kaic, 16. But he said as he ventured through passport control he was pulled to one side. After taking Jordan aside, the worker asked if he'd had his passport stamped before taking it from him. Moment hardcore anti tourist mob surround Brit tourists in Majorca chanting 'go home' & telling Brit ex-pats to 'go to hell' 'Then he snatched my passport out of my hand," Jordan said. "There had been nowhere to stamp it - we'd used the electronic gates. It was just an excuse to get the passport out of my hand.' After being held in a waiting room for more than four hours, Jordan was transferred to immigration at around midday, he said. By this time, his family had reached their five-star Anantara hotel. He called his partner and she got a taxi to the airport - but Jordan said airport staff refused to let her go to him and so she got a cab back, costing a total of £250. Jordan said he was "terrified" as he was not given his passport back for some time. 4 The dad has vowed to never return to Dubai Credit: SWNS 4 He said his passport was taken away for hours Credit: SWNS 'A woman came and took me upstairs to immigration, where they said: 'He's not coming in because of his face tattoos - you're not coming in because of the way you look'," he claimed. 'One of the staff behind the desk said a more senior immigration officer made the decision, saying I was not to enter Dubai and that I must leave the country immediately.' At 2.30pm - six hours after arriving - Jordan was put on another Emirates flight heading back to the UK. 'They sent me on a flight back to Manchester," he said. "It was only when I landed that I got my passport back. "Friday morning was the first time I got to see my daughter, over Facetime.' The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai have been approached for comment. Dubai Airports was also contacted for a response.


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The best English wines – including a newcomer from M&S
English Wine Week is back – and continuing until next Sunday. It's a brilliant excuse to explore our ever-evolving homegrown scene – trawl for details of tastings, tours and events. To celebrate, I've picked four bottles that show just how diverse and exciting English wine has become. Sure, it can be more expensive – but the prices reflect a young, quality-driven industry that's all about craftsmanship over volume. Finest English Sparkling Rosé Brut NV (11.5%), £21.50, Tesco. From the heavyweight Balfour Winery, this fizz bursts with pink blossom and has a delicious saline finish. Taken with afternoon tea, it's a joy. Finest English Sparkling Rosé Brut NV £21.50 Shop English Orange Wine 2024 (11%), £15, M&S. Orange is everywhere this summer, and M&S 's lightly fragrant newcomer from Kent is ideal if you're curious about skin-contact styles but unsure where to start. Bowler & Brolly Pétillant Naturel (10.5%), £12.99, Aldi (in-store from 26 June). Yes, English Pet-Nat is coming to Aldi. Zesty with apple, it's lightly fizzy, low in alcohol and made to be sipped in the sunshine. Bowler & Brolly Pétillant Naturel £12.99 Shop Dear Noodles Rosé 2023 (12%), £24, sugruesouth Winemaker Dermot Sugrue's rosé is all about electrifying freshness. Named after the vineyard's beloved lurcher, it's a standout.