From fine champagne to excellent sparking wines from here in the UK and France, here you’ll find our favourites to celebrate the season with.
Coates & Seely Brut Reserve NV
This delightful non vintage English Sparkling Brut Reserve comprises 40% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir and10% Pinot Meunier. It typically spends 2 ½ to 3 years on lees, blended with 2 to 3 prior years’ reserve wines, and is only released after a further 6-12 months on cork. Notes are of bright apple, citrus, ripe melon and peach – with hints of brioche . It’s full bodied with a lasting creamy finish. £32.95 from Coates & Seely
Zuccardi Blanc de Blancs
This lovely Cuvée Especial Blanc De Blancs from Argentina has wonderful notes of green apple, toast, white florals and a hint of spice. It’s a long lasting and elegant sparkling perfect for any special occasion.
£14.14 from Vivino
Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne
As one of the few Champagne Houses to remain owned and actively managed by the family, the hallmark of Taittinger Champagnes is is the high percentage of Chardonnay used in their winemaking, providing for a style of elegance, delicacy and finesse. Renowned for its golden yellow colour with a consistent, fine lingering mousse, the Brut Réserve NV is elegant and light, giving it the flexibility to be the Champagne for the moment or excellent as an aperitif. Notes are of fruit and brioche and it pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, oysters and canapés.
£46 from Fortnum & Mason
Borgo Antico Congliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco
A great choice for festive parties, this lively Prosecco can be paired with shellfish, canapés and a host of other foods. Notes are of ripe fruits, brioche, apple and lemon.
£10.77 from Vivino
Bolney Cuvee Noir 2014
For something a little different do try this wonderful traditional method English sparkling red wine from The Bolney Estate. Rich and sweet with ripe cherry, redcurrants and blueberries and a hint of spice on the finish.
£30 from The Bolney Estate
The Emissary Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut
This refined premium Prosecco is made from only the finest selection of grapes grown in the ‘DOCG Asolo’ region. It’s elegant, rich and complex with extra fine, velvety bubbles. The bouquet is rich with fruity and floral notes. Vibrant, zesty acidity and a subtle hint of sweetness balance gracefully on the palate. Round, gentle finish with lingering notes of fresh fruit. A perfect celebratory tipple.
£17.99 from The Emissary
Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé
A lovely, excellent value party fizz. Made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with notes of berries and brioche perfect to pair with pastries and fruit based desserts. It has a long finish too and is perfect as an aperitif.
£10.39 from Ocado
Liquid Diamond Rosé Prosecco
Another lovely Prosecco perfect for parties and seeing in the New Year. This Liquid Diamond Rosé is bottled in Valdobbiadene, the heart of Prosecco and is vegan-friendly. The pretty bottles come in a gift box making this an attractive gift too. This Rosé Prosecco has notes of pops ripe red fruits, especially raspberries, cherries and blueberries.
£20 from Liquid Diamond
Jenkyn Place Blanc De Blancs 2015
This wonderful English Blanc de Blancs is made only from Jenkyn Place’s vineyards’ 8,500 Chardonnay vines. It is the first Blanc de Blancs they made, and the 2015 Vintage, with its low yields and concentrated fruit, has given it weight and complexity. This is a lovely zesty wine, with notes of lemon and verbena tempered with plum and other stone fruits. It’s delicious paired with festive fair such as smoked salmon, turkey, shellfish and mild cheeses.
£38 from Jenkyn Place
Gusbourne Rosé 2017
A most delightful English rosé made from a blend of estate-grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Notes of summer berries and white florals give a freshness which mellow to a creamy and well rounded finish. It comes in a special gift box too.
£49.00 from Gusbourne
The Wine Society Christmas Pamper Case
The perfect gift for someone special who loves sparkling wine and beauty. Inside are pamper-perfect treats with a vinous twist, including a scrub and a body butter enriched with grape seeds, a hand & lip duo and a box of chocolates plus the Wine Society’s own bottle of excellent Prosecco.
£68 from The Wine Society
Gusbourne Bland De Blancs
Gusbourne’s excellent Blanc de Blancs typifies the linear purity of this classic style. The finest lots of chardonnay that exhibit natural minerality are selected, ensuring the wine has both finesse and elegance, as well as the requisite qualities for extended ageing. Presented in a special individual gift box.
£59.00 from Gusbourne
Graham Beck Brut Rosé
This lovely South African sparkly from Graham Beck is a perfect celebratory drink. It’s made in the same way as champagne. Decanter called it “great value”. It has elegant creamy red-fruit aromas, rich mousse and a brioche-laden finish.
£16.99 (£71.94 for 6, £143.88 for 12) from Majestic.
FIOL Rosé Prosecco
Such a lovely coral coloured Prosecco with delicious notes of raspberry and wild strawberry with hints of zesty lemon and white florals. Refreshing and elegant, the Pinot Noir shines through, showcasing a harmonious palate and persistent finish. Perfect paired with festive canapés.
£16.95 from Greatwine.co.uk and also Tannico
Frerejean Frères Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Frerejean Frères Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV 75cl is created using exclusively Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes from the Côte des Blancs. 50% of the reserve wines used were from the harvests of 2010 and 2011. By blending different vintages, Frerejean Frères have crafted a wine of great generosity and complexity with beautiful aromas and a linger after taste. All Frerejean Frères Champagne is sold in small, limited quantities all over the world and the house is known for their fresh, innovative approach they take whilst respecting the traditional methods of producing Champagne. This lovely champagne which comes in gorgeous packaging pairs perfectly with cured meat, fish, soft cheeses such as Brie and summer fruits. £63 from The Champagne Company
Champagne Taittinger Nocturne
This lovely champagne from Taittinger has fine bubbles and notes of white blossom and ripe fruit, with overtones of ripe peaches and apricots. On the palate its soft and mellow but retains a fresh zing. Has a long aftertaste and is a fine example of a well rounded and very well balanced champagne.
£40 from Champagne Direct
Vilarnau Brut Reserva Cava
This excellent and award winning Cava is decorated with a Gaudi Sleeve is the latest edition by Vilarnau.
It’s fresh and fruity and perfect as an aperitif before a meal or enjoyed at any time. Pairs beautifully with seafood, brioche, fish and even venison and most festive fare.
From The Champagne Company £11.50.
Lo Sparviere Franciacorta Rosé
Franciacorta Rosé “Monique” is exclusively produced from Pinot Noir grapes from the Sergnana and Ronchetto vineyards. The grapes macerate on their skins for the time necessary to extract the most subtle aromas and to give the wine the precise desired rosé hue. A refined, extremely expressive bouquet releases smooth nuances of red berry fruits and rosewater. From Independent Wine
Champagne Castelnau Reserve
This refined and elegant Castelnau Reserve champagne is aged for at least 5 years and suited both as an aperitif and with fine food. It’s wonderfully zesty and fresh and perfect as a celebratory toast and to accompany scallops and other shellfish and other light festive fare. If you prefer your champagne to be vivacious rather than rich and heavy, this is the ideal choice for you.
£35 from Winebuyers.com
François Martenot Crémant de Bourgogne
This delightful Crémant de Bourgogne offers finesse and a nice aromatic intensity. Notes of white florals and apples, peaches and brioche make it compatible paired with a wide range of festive fare.
£15.92 from Drinks & Co.
Champagne Armand De Brignac
For a very special treat, Armand de Brignac’s flagship Brut Gold cuvee was rated the best Champagne in Fine Champagne magazine’s tasting of 1,000 brands. Super complex and full-bodied with a floral fresh and lovely bouquet it’s wonderful with scallops, roasted quail and freshwater fish. Or of course as a very special champagne to toast in the New Year.
£289.99 from Ultimate Drinks
Domaine Carneros by Taittinger
Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs is a highly acclaimed tête de cuvée – the winery’s finest sparkling wine and frequently named America’s Best Sparkling. French for “the dream,” Le Rêve is crafted from 100% estate grown Chardonnay, making it a pure expression of Domaine Carneros. A wonderful wine to savour and celebrate with.
$120 from Domaine Carneros
Gusbourne Rosé 2017
This distinctive and delicious high quality English Rosé made from a blend of estate-grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Presented in a special individual gift box. A lovely present and perfect celebratory toast.
£49.00 from Gusboune
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Essential Extra Brut 2015
Notes of green apple, brioche, almonds and citrus marry beautifully in this refreshingly crisp
Piper-Heidsieck champagne. Has a good length, and pairs well with pork, shellfish, rich fish dishes and mild cheese – or of course on its own as a celebratory toast!
£39.95 from Vivino
Lo Sparviere Franciacorta DOCG Brut Millesimato 2014
A delightful “metodo classico” sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay. It’s a millesimato, which means that all the grapes come from the same vintage. This only happens in the best years, and shows that this is a top of the range fizz for this winery. Further evidence is that it won the prestigious Bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2021.
£30.45 from Independent Wine
By Lisa Curtiss
