Latest news with #HelenaNicklin
The Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I tested the best supermarket low alcohol booze – light & luscious winning wine was like pudding in a glass
ALMOST half of Gen Z never have more than one glass of wine a night, while a further 39 per cent rarely have more than one, new research shows. And three out of four Brits of all ages now say they are more conscious of their tipple levels. 9 9 Almost 40 per cent of the drinks we consume today are now a low- or no-ABV option. Luckily if you fancy a bevvie but want to cut down on your alcohol intake there's loads of non-boozy glugs to try. Many wine, beer and even spirits are now available in 'mid-strength' options for those who wish to cut down the units while still clinking a glass. But which lower ABV drinks deliver and which disappoint? Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin gives her verdict. 19 Crimes Mid-strength Red 75cl, 7% ABV, £8, Sainsbury's - 2/5 WHERE do I start with this bottle of lower ABV red from the 19 Crimes brand? Well, on the plus side, this is indeed a lower alcohol wine at 7% ABV so it ticks the box for anyone who wants a glass of red, but less boozy. However… it is also a great example of why you just can't simply de-alcoholise a normal wine and leave it. Why? Because it will taste unbalanced, acidic and cooked – just like this one. Add to that some fake-tasting vanilla and that's what you get here. It's expensive too, as you are paying for the same name. Not the best! Small Beer: The Original 350ml, 2.1% ABV, £2.20, Majestic - 5/5 THE boys at the Small Beer brewery, located in South London, created this brand years ago with the sole aim of making properly drinkable, lower alcohol 'session' beers – so they had to be good. That's a promising way to start when you want to create something decent for drinkers who want lower booze levels to sip – and the results are super. This perky Pilsner-style brew is light and hoppy, with lots of flavour. It is seriously refreshing and just right for a light buzz without the bad head. Well worth the few extra pennies, especially when compared to some other low-beer brands. Beavertown Satellite Super Session IPA 330ml, 2.8% ABV, £1.56 (£6.25 x 4), Sainsbury's - 3/5 BEAVERTOWN is a great brand for reliable beers of all shapes and styles. This brewery has a wonderfully creative image and this eye-catching can offers an IPA with a lot of flavour punch – from citrussy bitter hops to fresh florals, which make up for the lower ABV. It might be too soapy and punchy flavour-wise for some drinkers, but traditional IPA drinkers should love it. What's great about this is you can just pick it up and chuck it in your trolley when you are in the supermarket and it won't cost you a fortune. So, it makes drinking 'low' easy and accessible. Summer in a glass! Mid-strength Val De Loire Blanc 75cl, 8.4% ABV, £7.75, Sainsbury's Taste The Difference - 4/5 SAINSBURY'S was the first supermarket to create its own range of mid-strength wines, and this tangy little number is lower on the alcohol – but to drink it's fab. Reduced-alcohol vino doesn't have the best reputation, but this one is made with the prettily perfumed, local grolleau gris grape variety from France's Loire region. The Loire is known for its naturally lighter wines. In the glass, it delivers a tipple that is crisp, clean and fruity. Served well-chilled and you can hardly tell it's a lower ABV. A great bottle if you like the idea of a glass of proper wine in the evening or at a party but don't want a high booze count. McGuigan Mid Rosé 7% ABV, £4.50, Tesco - 5/5 THIS middle-strength rosé from Aussie winemakers McGuigan has been hit and miss in the past, but this year's version is the best so far – so this summer is the time to sip it. Slightly off dry, it comes across as very fruity with notes of summer fruit and strawberry jelly. Light and luscious, it's perfect for poolside parties in the sun. Serve very cold with a handful of strawberries and it's practically pudding! A great way to enjoy a lovely glass of 'pool plonk' without going overboard on the alcohol. It's a nice daytime option too, if you are having a bottle with lunch. What's not to like? Quarter Proof Vodka Light 70cl, 15% ABV, £22.99 on offer, Amazon - 3/5 LOWER ABV spirits are becoming more common but opting for big brand 'low or no' versions of their bestsellers is not always your only option. The clue is in the name with Quarter Proof, a firm that makes spirits which are exactly that – one fourth of the ABV compared to the original mainstays. This lower-proof vodka grain spirit splits the critics – at just 15%, many ask why wouldn't you just pour a smaller measure of the proper stuff into your glass – but this has a tad more flavour than most vodkas. This means you don't feel too short changed. There's something luxurious about pouring from a proper bottle too. Worth a go if this is your tipple. Hayman's London Light Gin 70cl, 12.5% ABV, £18.99, Tesco - 5/5 IF G&T is your favourite tipple but you want to trim the ABV level of what you measure over ice then this is the spirit I would recommend. The gin masters at Hayman's came up with this light gin concept way before it was trendy and, honestly, it works brilliantly – and it's cheaper than regular gin, too. The key here is doubling down on the juniper and botanicals so that when you mix it with tonic, you really have no idea that the ABV is lighter. You get all that gorgeous gin taste, it pairs perfectly and it's very pretty too. Pour this into your balloon glass and it'll hit the spot even for hardened gin connoisseurs. The pretty packaging also means it makes a great gift.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The common mistake you're making while drinking champagne - and how to enjoy a glass of bubbly the right way
You're drinking champagne wrong if you reach for a flute every time a bottle is popped, experts have said. The glassware 'does nothing' for champagne and sparkling wines, according to an 11th-generation Austrian glassmaker who has vowed to 'make them obsolete'. Speaking to The Telegraph, Maximilian Riedel recommended swapping it for a traditional white wine glass or a tulip-shaped one with a larger surface area that allows you to savour the wine's aroma before taking a sip. Riedel isn't the only expert with a distate for champagne served in flutes; sommelier Sandia Chang had them banned from Kitchen Table, the two-Michelin-starred London restaurant she runs with her chef husband James Knappett. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, experts insist there's no benefit to drinking champagne or sparking wines from flutes as award-winning drinks writer and broadcaster Helena Nicklin told FEMAIL the narrow glasses add a 'sense of occasion to drinking bubbles'. However, it is true you miss a lot of the flavour, she continued. 'Wine needs space and air to open up after all that time in the bottle, so serving it in a skinny flute is like keeping the mute button on,' Nicklin said. 'While this doesn't matter so much with inexpensive Prosecco or cheap fizz, it's a real shame for those more premium, traditionally-made sparkling wines and Champagnes that have layers of delicate flavours,' she added. She recommends swapping the flute for a tulip-shaped glass that about the same width as a small white wine glass that will give the wine the room it needs to 'breathe while keeping the bubbles in as best as possible'. Yann Munier, a native of the Champagne region and Cellar Master at the G. H. Mumm Champagne house, previously told MailOnline a white wine glass or rounded flute is preferable to a Champagne 'coupe'. 'I recommend a white wine glass or a rounded flute for optimal tasting. Indeed, the Champagne "coupe" (a very flat glass) disperses the aromas and there is not enough height in the wine to see the bubbles. 'So choose a glass in which you can swirl the wine to smell it and with a tighter top.' Munier's top tips for enjoying a glass of bubbly include serving it chilled, but not iced, at around six to eight degrees Celsius as an aperiif. If it's being enjoyed with a main course, the ideal temperature is between nine and 12 degrees. He advises pouring the Champagne slowly while tilting the glass to preserve the bubbles. 'Don't fill the glass completely, two-thirds full is the maximum, leaving enough space for the aromas to develop,' he said. Some of the common mistakes include servicng Champagne 'too hot or cold' or using the wrong glass. 'It's also important to remember that tasting Champagne should be a full sensory experience - take time to look at the colour and feel the effervescence, smell the aromas and savour the complexity of the flavours,' he added. It comes after sales of champagne in the UK slumped to a 25-year low amid the cost-of-living crisis and the rise of sober-curious GenZ. MailOnline reported that 22.3 million bottles of bubbly were shipped to Britain last year, which is the lowest since 2000 when 20.5 million were imported. A decline in sales has led to a significant increase in price with the cost of a bottle soaring by 25 per cent in the last three years alone. At many major retailers, shoppers can now expect to pay more than £40 for champagne. It's hardly surprising then that sales of alternatives such as Prosecco are at an 'all-time-high'. At Waitrose, a bottle of Waitrose Blueprint Prosecco can be snapped up for just £6.39. Indeed, 660 million bottles of prosecco and more than 114.5 million bottles of Cremant, a similar alternative, were sold in 2024. But a bottle of champagne doesn't necessarily have to break the bank; while you may be tempted to splash out on a luxury bottle, Which? has deemed three non-vintage champagnes from supermarket chains Teso, Aldi and Waitrose are better than the leading brand. A panel of four independent wine experts then blind-tasted the selection, scoring them to uncover the best of the bunch. The panel's highest score went to the Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne, at 82 per cent. The bottle of bubbly costs just £25 per bottle. It beat Moët & Chandon's Brut Imperial, which scored 77 per cent despite being almost double the price at £44 per bottle. Also scoring above the UK's leading champagne house is Aldi's Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Brut Champagne, which ranked at 80 per cent. The bottle is priced at £20. The panel liked its aroma of 'crunchy green apples with a suggestion of pecans, spice and butterscotch'. And Waitrose impressed with its Brut NV Champagne, which also scored 80 per cent. The bottle, priced at £25, has 'pleasing peach, pear and apple flavours, and a superb nut and winter spice taste'. Which? also tested sparkling wines, and uncovered some "brilliant" budget options. The cheapest of these, Lidl's Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene, scored 80 per cent. 'At £7.49 a bottle, this Great Value option is an excellent alternative to champagne, and perfect for Christmas parties,' the consumer group said.
Scottish Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
I tried all the supermarket strawberry daiquiris – £2.25 winner was a punchy, silky smooth revelation
One leading supermarket's tipple was slammed by our reviewer who said 'you can't really taste the booze at all' NICE ICE BABY I tried all the supermarket strawberry daiquiris – £2.25 winner was a punchy, silky smooth revelation Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WELCOME to National Daiquiri Day – and why not celebrate by sipping this simple retro cocktail? Named after the beach in Cuba where it was created, the drink consists of four ingredients: white rum, strawberries, fresh lime juice and a splash of sugar syrup – and served with a generous scoop of crushed ice. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries out ready-to-go Daiquiris and gives her verdict Credit: Oliver Dixon 10 The drink consists of four ingredients: white rum, strawberries, fresh lime juice and a splash of sugar syrup Credit: Getty But you don't have to bother mixing your own, as most supermarkets sell ready-to-go canned or bottled options. Drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries some out and gives her verdict. Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 8% ABV, £2.50, Marks & Spencer - 3/5 I THINK the M&S range of 'perfectly mixed' tipples really set the standard for canned cocktails at a mid ABV (alcohol by volume) range, and this one is decidedly decent. A blend of berry flavour and white rum with a squeeze of tangy lime, it's a pre-balanced beverage which will save you the faff of buying all the components to create your own. 10 M&S Strawberry Daiquiriis very simple, gluggable and well mixed Like all daiquiris, it's pretty sweet and gives good strawberry sweetie flavours with very subtle citrus notes. The booze isn't obvious but it's just about there on the finish. Very simple, but gluggable and well mixed. Funkin Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri 200ml, 5% ABV, £2.25, Tesco - 5/5 MY experience with the Funkin Nitro range of pre-mixed boozy tipples has not always been positive. But luckily, this ready-to-drink daiquiri didn't disappoint. 10 Funkin Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri scored full marks Sip, Savor, Celebrate: Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2024 When it comes to the Cuban cocktail, this one was a revelation. The 'nitro' is an infusion of nitrogen to make it silky smooth and bar-quality, and this time the addition gives a lovely, authentic creamy texture. It looks more natural, colour-wise, and has a pleasant fruity smell. There are a lot of good flavours that taste like actual strawberries and limes. It feels and tastes punchy, too. It's not the cheapest, but this is an excellent cocktail. Malibu Sparkling Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail 250ml, 5% ABV, £2.20, Sainsbury's - 2/5 A DAIQUIRI is a rum-based drink, so it makes sense that big brands have got in on the ready-to-drink action and created their own pre-made cocktails – ensuring their spirit is the core ingredient. As a Malibu fan, I had high hopes for this tipple. 10 Malibu Sparkling Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail scored 2 out of 5 But sadly, it didn't deliver. It has less of a lurid pink look than some, though it's slightly spritzy and very sweet and synthetic-tasting. In fact, you can't really taste the booze at all and the flavours throughout are generic and rather fake. So not much like a daiquiri at all. There are better ones out there at a similar price point. Such a shame. Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 5% ABV, £1.95, Morrisons - 1/5 MORRISONS' own version is definitely more of an alcopop than a ready-to-drink cocktail, in my opinion. If you pour it into a glass, it has a scary fluorescent-pink appearance, plus it's very fizzy and thin, like a carbonated drink. 10 Morrisons' own version is definitely more of an alcopop than a ready-to-drink cocktail Flavour-wise, there's a searingly acidic punch of something resembling lime and strawberry but it's achingly synthetic – enough to set your teeth on edge. The can is pretty enough to look at and it's easy to pack into a picnic for drinking on the go. Affordable and, I suppose, if you serve it with lots of ice and real fruit it will be drinkable. Au Vodka Strawberry Daiquiri 200ml, 8% ABV, £3.33, Asda, Morrisons & Tesco - 2/5 THIS gets full marks for its eye-catching retro Seventies-style gold and red can, which would be fab at parties, posh picnics or on your social media feed. But what's inside it is a bit of a let-down. 10 Au Vodka Strawberry Daiquiri scored 2 out of 5 Credit: supplied A classic cocktail with a twist, this is a daiquiri made using vodka as its base spirit instead of rum, so a good option for those who prefer this spirit. It's another nifty nitrogen-infused can that promises a creamy texture, but it's not as effective as its rivals. There's tons of flavour, including a coconut undertone. But it's still incredibly synthetic and acidic. Expensive compared to others too – all flash and no smash. The Distiller Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 4% ABV, £1.22, Asda - 3/5 ASDA'S own Distiller range does a great job at offering every ready-to-drink cocktail you could wish for – and some are better than others. This one's not bad and it's a bargain price at just over a quid. 10 The Distiller Strawberry Daiquiri scored 3 out of 5 But I'd also say that it's not their best either. As a one-off purchase or a cheaper ready-to-drink cocktail, it's well worth a try. Although it's not as sweet as some others, there's a lot of tooth-strippingly zingy lime alongside the fruit flavour – and it's fizzy. Served over ice with slices of strawberry, and maybe with a splash of tonic, it's super refreshing. Great for a few drinks in the garden. Navigator Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 3.4% ABV, £1, Iceland - 4/5 FOR only a quid, this daquiri from Iceland was a total surprise – and in a positive way. The can is fabulous, with a gorgeous design that looks far pricier than it actually is. 10 Navigator Strawberry Daiquiri is only a quid and scored 4 out of 5 Not only does it look elegant but what's inside is pretty smashing too. It's probably not the most authentic Cuban daiquiri out there and yes, it's sweet and sticky. But it delivers what you want and tastes of strawberry and lime with a nice boozy kick. Compared to many others at this ABV range, it over delivers and will save you money. Stock up for your summer parties or serve it ice cold. It's a one-quid triumph. Served Strawberry Daiquiri 125ml, 14.9% ABV, £3.90, Morrisons - 4/5 THIS small, canned sipper sits in a different quality category from most of the others, as it's a proper, bar-style serving. With three times the boozy bite of the others – a whopping 14.9 per cent – it's creamy, concentrated and sumptuously smooth with a lot more natural flavour. 10 Served Strawberry Daiquiri scored 4 out of 5 There's lots of body, a stunning berry-red colour and it contains a much higher quality, proper Caribbean rum. It's double the price of the others, but worth it if you want to spend a bit more for an authentic beach bar-style glugger. One to pour into a fancy glass and savour.
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I tried all the supermarket strawberry daiquiris – £2.25 winner was a punchy, silky smooth revelation
WELCOME to National Daiquiri Day – and why not celebrate by sipping this simple retro cocktail? Named after the beach in Cuba where it was created, the drink consists of four ingredients: white rum, strawberries, fresh lime juice and a splash of sugar syrup – and served with a generous scoop of crushed ice. 10 But you don't have to bother mixing your own, as most supermarkets sell ready-to-go canned or bottled options. Drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries some out and gives her verdict. Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 8% ABV, £2.50, Marks & Spencer - 3/5 I THINK the M&S range of 'perfectly mixed' tipples really set the standard for canned cocktails at a mid ABV (alcohol by volume) range, and this one is decidedly decent. A blend of berry flavour and white rum with a squeeze of tangy lime, it's a pre-balanced beverage which will save you the faff of buying all the components to create your own. Like all daiquiris, it's pretty sweet and gives good strawberry sweetie flavours with very subtle citrus notes. The booze isn't obvious but it's just about there on the finish. Very simple, but gluggable and well mixed. Funkin Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri 200ml, 5% ABV, £2.25, Tesco - 5/5 MY experience with the Funkin Nitro range of pre-mixed boozy tipples has not always been positive. But luckily, this ready-to-drink daiquiri didn't disappoint. Sip, Savor, Celebrate: Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2024 When it comes to the Cuban cocktail, this one was a revelation. The 'nitro' is an infusion of nitrogen to make it silky smooth and bar-quality, and this time the addition gives a lovely, authentic creamy texture. It looks more natural, colour-wise, and has a pleasant fruity smell. There are a lot of good flavours that taste like actual strawberries and limes. It feels and tastes punchy, too. It's not the cheapest, but this is an excellent cocktail. Malibu Sparkling Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail 250ml, 5% ABV, £2.20, Sainsbury's - 2/5 A DAIQUIRI is a rum-based drink, so it makes sense that big brands have got in on the ready-to-drink action and created their own pre-made cocktails – ensuring their spirit is the core ingredient. As a Malibu fan, I had high hopes for this tipple. But sadly, it didn't deliver. It has less of a lurid pink look than some, though it's slightly spritzy and very sweet and synthetic-tasting. In fact, you can't really taste the booze at all and the flavours throughout are generic and rather fake. So not much like a daiquiri at all. There are better ones out there at a similar price point. Such a shame. Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 5% ABV, £1.95, Morrisons - 1/5 MORRISONS' own version is definitely more of an alcopop than a ready-to-drink cocktail, in my opinion. If you pour it into a glass, it has a scary fluorescent-pink appearance, plus it's very fizzy and thin, like a carbonated drink. Flavour-wise, there's a searingly acidic punch of something resembling lime and strawberry but it's achingly synthetic – enough to set your teeth on edge. The can is pretty enough to look at and it's easy to pack into a picnic for drinking on the go. Affordable and, I suppose, if you serve it with lots of ice and real fruit it will be drinkable. Au Vodka Strawberry Daiquiri 200ml, 8% ABV, £3.33, Asda, Morrisons & Tesco - 2/5 THIS gets full marks for its eye-catching retro Seventies-style gold and red can, which would be fab at parties, posh picnics or on your social media feed. But what's inside it is a bit of a let-down. A classic cocktail with a twist, this is a daiquiri made using vodka as its base spirit instead of rum, so a good option for those who prefer this spirit. It's another nifty nitrogen-infused can that promises a creamy texture, but it's not as effective as its rivals. There's tons of flavour, including a coconut undertone. But it's still incredibly synthetic and acidic. Expensive compared to others too – all flash and no smash. The Distiller Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 4% ABV, £1.22, Asda - 3/5 ASDA'S own Distiller range does a great job at offering every ready-to-drink cocktail you could wish for – and some are better than others. This one's not bad and it's a bargain price at just over a quid. But I'd also say that it's not their best either. As a one-off purchase or a cheaper ready-to-drink cocktail, it's well worth a try. Although it's not as sweet as some others, there's a lot of tooth-strippingly zingy lime alongside the fruit flavour – and it's fizzy. Served over ice with slices of strawberry, and maybe with a splash of tonic, it's super refreshing. Great for a few drinks in the garden. Navigator Strawberry Daiquiri 250ml, 3.4% ABV, £1, Iceland - 4/5 FOR only a quid, this daquiri from Iceland was a total surprise – and in a positive way. The can is fabulous, with a gorgeous design that looks far pricier than it actually is. Not only does it look elegant but what's inside is pretty smashing too. It's probably not the most authentic Cuban daiquiri out there and yes, it's sweet and sticky. But it delivers what you want and tastes of strawberry and lime with a nice boozy kick. Compared to many others at this ABV range, it over delivers and will save you money. Stock up for your summer parties or serve it ice cold. It's a one-quid triumph. Served Strawberry Daiquiri 125ml, 14.9% ABV, £3.90, Morrisons - 4/5 THIS small, canned sipper sits in a different quality category from most of the others, as it's a proper, bar-style serving. With three times the boozy bite of the others – a whopping 14.9 per cent – it's creamy, concentrated and sumptuously smooth with a lot more natural flavour. There's lots of body, a stunning berry-red colour and it contains a much higher quality, proper Caribbean rum. It's double the price of the others, but worth it if you want to spend a bit more for an authentic beach bar-style glugger. One to pour into a fancy glass and savour.
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I tried supermarket rosé sparkling wines for under £10 – winner is a gorgeous glugger at a cork-popping price
Scroll down to find out which bottle is perfect for pouring at parties FAB FIZZ I tried supermarket rosé sparkling wines for under £10 – winner is a gorgeous glugger at a cork-popping price Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PINK fizz is the drink to sip this summer, with fans going mad for bottles of pastel bubbly. Sales of rosé sparkling wines have shot up by 11 per cent this year, showing we have a real thirst for necking the blush bubbles. 10 Helena Nicklin rates a selection of fab fizzes costing £10 or less Credit: Oliver Dixon 10 There are plenty of bargains on pink fizz to be had in supermarkets Credit: Shutterstock Popping a cork on a big-name froth won't come cheap. But luckily there are plenty of bargains to be had in the supermarkets. Here, wine expert Helena Nicklin rates a selection of fab fizzes costing £10 or less. Castellore Organic Prosecco Rosé 11%, £7.99, Aldi 10 Aldi's Castellore Organic Prosecco Rosé has a hint of sweetness A STEP up in flavour and general pizzazz but still at a cork-popping price is this shopper favourite Italian pink froth from Castellore. The bottle is bold and beautiful so it makes a lovely present. The wine in the glass is a ravishing rose petal pink and it feels like a bonus that it is made with organic grapes, especially for what you are paying. Classed as an extra dry prosecco, it has a hint of sweetness (yes, the labelling is confusing so don't get me started on the terminology) but this comes across as ripe cherry and raspberry fruit rather than a whack of sugar. A truly gorgeous glugger, perfect for any number of occasions. RATING: 5/5 I visited Greggs' new champagne bar – one cocktail tastes just like an iconic childhood treat Sainsbury's Rosé Cava 11% , £7, Sainsbury's 10 Sainsbury's Rosé Cava is a great one for pouring at parties THIS pretty, medium-pink tipple is one of Sainsbury's long-term successes and it's clear to see why this sparkling sip has turned into such a stalwart for the chain. It is a more classic example of the Spanish pink cava and to drink it's dry, subtly complex and refreshing, with yummy notes of raspberry and smoky strawberry. A great one for pouring at parties. This can be sipped alone or alongside most savoury food, so it is a very useful bottle to keep ready for any time you might want to pop a cork without spending a fortune. A great example of what brilliant value cava can be. RATING: 4/5 Morrisons The Best Prosecco DOC Rosé 10.5%, £8.50, Morrisons 10 The Best Prosecco DOC Rosé from Morrisons is a people-pleasing tipple FUN, fruity and frothy, this slightly lower-alcohol rosé fizz from Morrisons is a decent enough drop for the cash. Very well priced, considering there is nothing to complain about with this bang-on-the-money Italian prosecco. Sip a flute and you'll find everything is in balance, from its splash of red fruit to the simple sweetness. It's not going to set the world on fire, but it's also not going to turn people off with any sickly, synthetic notes. A reliable, people-pleasing prosecco that is perfect for any occasion when you need a sparkling something in your glass. RATING: 3/5 Casa Luis Cava Rosé Extra Dry 11%, £6.33, Asda 10 Asda's Casa Luis Cava Rosé Extra Dry is remarkably moreish when very cold WHILE not a bad price – the cheapest of the bunch – be warned that this Spanish pink sipper is not for the faint hearted as it packs a real flavour punch. Deep red, slightly sweet (yes, another confusing label as it says 'extra dry'!) and very rustic to glug, this juicy fizz has all the hallmarks of a classic, savoury cava with a whack of jammy fruitiness. When very cold, it's remarkably moreish, however. The sweetness will temper some of the spice and it will be banging with barbecued meat and sweeter sauces. A bit different and well worth a go at this super price. RATING: 2/5 Etoile de Timberlay Crémant Brut Rosé NV 12%, £10, M&S 10 The Etoile de Timberlay Crémant Brut Rosé NV from M&S is well-priced and well-presented MADE with 100 per cent merlot, this M&S French fizz marvel is as pretty as a picture and it doesn't just look the part – it's a reliable drop to drink, too. Well-priced and nicely presented, this pale pink, classy cremant – a type of sparkling wine from across the Channel that's very close to 'real' champagne but made in a different region – offers notes of wild strawberry and a whiff of vine tomato. There's some decent texture too, so it's super to enjoy with food, perhaps cheese and picky bits. At 12% it's still nicely light on booze for a traditional method fizz, though you'd never tell in the glass. All in all, very refreshing. RATING: 4/5 Costellore Italian Sparkling Rosé 11%, £7.25, Aldi 10 Aldi's Costellore Italian Sparkling Rosé is crisp and dry with a gentle waft of something berry-like HERE is a terrific tipple to try if you like the vibrant, Italian vibe of a flute of pink prosecco but perhaps want something a little drier to sip. This simple, subtle sparkler hasn't got a huge amount going on but that's not always a bad thing if you're serving it as a starter to proceedings. Crisp and dry with a gentle waft of something berry-like, this is fine alone so it would make a great aperitif or just a bottle to enjoy at the weekend. But I think it would also make a great base for a wine cocktail freshened up at this time of year with a fruity strawberry garnish for some true glass appeal. RATING: 3/5 Crémant de Loire Rosé 12%, £8.99 Lidl 10 Lidl's Crémant de Loire Rosé is a great one for any gathering THIS lively little drop from Lidl is a pretty pukka pink froth for the price, and I'd say it's worth every penny. Sleek and elegant on the inside as well as the outside, this fabulous tinted fizz is made using the same traditional method as champagne but produced in a neighbouring French region, so sipping it gives a little bit of brioche among the bright, berry fruit. Great for any gathering when you don't want to splurge but perhaps want to up your wine game from a standard prosecco. A good one to stock up on for any celebration. Full marks for this class in a glass! RATING: 5/5 Louis Couturier Crémant Brut Rose 11.5%, £10 Tesco 10 The sweetness stands out in Tesco's Louis Couturier Crémant Brut Rose THIS bubbly from Bordeaux, France is a bit different as it uses the heavier merlot and cabernet Franc grapes rather than the lighter-skinned pinot noir grape seen in many other cremants. This means that despite its delicate pink colour, the contents in the glass has more grip and dark fruit than the others. The sweetness stands out a little too, so it's ideal for those who prefer this in their bubbles. If you normally lean towards dry, don't be fearful. If you serve it chilled, this gives you an epic foodie wine that will love cold meats and salty cheese – so ideal for a sunny picnic. RATING: 3/5
