I tested bargain supermarket champagnes…winner was a £22 cracker from Co-Op that’s perfect for parties

CHAMPAGNE lovers are bubbling with excitement – as 28 per cent of shoppers have already stocked up on bottles for Christmas.

But as we all look to save money during the cost-of-living crisis, a glass of real French champers might seem a luxury too far.

Luckily, the supermarkets have cheaper alternatives to the famous labels that usually dominate the market for posh fizz.

Here, wine expert Helena Nicklin picks her top of the pops.

Les Pionniers non-vintage – £22.75, Co-op

FREQUENTLY cited by experts as the best non-vintage champers around for the price, Co-op’s cracking Les Pionniers is still as reliably good as it has always been.

At only a touch over 20 quid for a bottle, it is also a complete bargain for a taste of the real deal.

If you prefer a crisper, more red apple skin-style to the heady, baked brioche versions of your froth, then this one is for you.

Perfect for parties, special occasions or just a special treat, they have a fabulous posher vintage version, too.

For what you get with that one, it’s still a steal at £30.

An all-round winner for price, quality and taste.

You simply can’t go wrong with this bottle of bubbly.

Rating: 5/5

Taste The Difference brut non-vintage – £22, Sainsbury’s

SAINSBURY’S NV has always been a personal go-to of mine for parties.

That’s because it is reliable year after year and has a very classic champagne profile.

With a little apple skin, a hint of brioche, some riper fruit and enough tartness to let you know you are drinking real champers, this option will be a solid choice, if not hugely exciting.

It is a dependable, good-value bottle of French champagne made using a blend of premium Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes.

Ideal for gifting or glugging, it is a great, all-round bottle for an extremely friendly price.

And the label looks lovely too!

Rating: 3/5

The Best brut premier cru – £23, Morrisons

MORRISONS The Best range can be absolutely fabulous.

But it can also sometimes slightly miss the mark – as sadly it does here.

For a higher-level, premier-cru style, this is an extremely well-priced bottle of champagne and it has everything you would want to see on the label.

But when it comes down to the taste, you can see why this one has been relegated to the lower price bracket.

Super-lean and astringent, the acidity is a tad screechy here and there is not much flavour on the palate, apart from some smokiness.

Overall, promising, but a real shame it is not more enjoyable.

Rating: 2/5

Delacourt medium dry, £24, M&S

MEDIUM dry bubbles are certainly having a moment.

Real champers means the bottles are from grapes and vineyards in the Champagne region of France,  exclusively made according to strict pressing criteria.

Unlike prosecco, which can be sugary, the tart acidity makes the extra sweetness taste fruity.

Just like this one, which is a winner when paired with salty snacks, hard cheeses and light pavlova-style puddings.

It is made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes.

For a fun change, a glass of Delacourt is also surprisingly delicious when it is glugged with a spicy curry.

Rating: 4/5

Montaudon AOP brut, Lidl £14.99

CHATEAU Monty was brought to us by Lidl to go head-to-head with Aldi’s house French fizz – and the supermarket really has done a decent job.

Much softer than many styles with simpler notes of baked apple and pastry, this cut-price champagne is a decent drop which is seriously easy to drink.

While it won’t hit the complex heights of some of its competition, this is still a total bargain.

You get all the joy of popping the cork on genuine French bubbly, while knowing how much money you have saved compared with a bottle from a more well-known name.

Great for champagne cocktails as well.

Rating: 3/5

Veuve Monsigny premier cru brut, £21.99, Aldi

I’VE banged on so much previously about Aldi’s brilliant £14.99 Veuve Monsigny champagne with its rich brioche and tasty apple tang.

So I thought it was now high time I also shouted about its trade-up version.

Still a total bargain, this premier cru – which means it was made using a superior grade of grapes – is a huge step up the quality fizz ladder.

There are more savoury, smoky notes along with a flinty tang.

If this was a big-name champagne brand you would be paying a huge hike for this category of wine.

But here, customers are still only paying just over 20 quid for it.

Properly posh bubbly, but without the premium price tag.

Rating: 4/5

Finest vintage brut, £30, Tesco

VINTAGE wine in Champagne is a big deal and will always cost more than non-vintage, which is often shortened to NV.

If you are after a big champagne house on the label in your ice bucket, then you will pay around double for something this good.

Tesco’s own might not have the famous-name cachet, but you are only paying £30 a bottle.

Once it is in the flute with a crisp kind of purity, there is so much flavour here.

But it is all pretty subtle and elegant.

It is made solely with Chardonnay grapes and gets a bit longer in the cellars, so you have a classy little number that is perfect for a special dinner party.

Rating: 4/5