Trvalý odkaz Pridané používateľom Anonymný (bez overenia) dňa So, 11/30/2024 - 09:41
'Tis the season for decadence and a touch of sparkle - and <br>
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what better way to bring festive cheer than a fridge full of <br>
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fizz for parties and impromptu gatherings?<br>
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Champagne is admittedly my bubbly of choice - I love both poised, elegant styles with <br>
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brisk acidity and the richer, pastry-like, gastronomic pours.<br>
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But with Christmas all about sharing, toasting, and big get-togethers, stocking up is <br>
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essential.<br>
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Consumer group Which? has named Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne <br>
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the best Christmas fizz, outclassing Moët & Chandon's Brut Impérial.<br>
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The supermarket fizz costs just £25 a bottle,<br>
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but many popular Champagnes are priced over £40.<br>
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With that in mind, I'm sharing my secrets for sparkling swaps that keep both <br>
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the palate and the wallet happy.<br>
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<u><b>Bollinger Champagne, £58</b></u><br>
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<b>Swap for? Langlois Crémant Brut Réserve NV, £15.95</b><br>
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<strong><u>Saving: £42.05 a bottle </u></strong><br>
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For Bolly bling without the sting, head to the Loire Valley, where the Bollinger <br>
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family crafts this Crémant using the same traditional method <br>
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as their Champagnes. Made primarily from Chenin Blanc, which thrives in the Loire, it undergoes 24 months <br>
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of aging, delivering a Crémant with depth that offers a charming <br>
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twist on Bollinger's rich Champagne style - with change to spare.<br>
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<b>Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne, £280</b><br>
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<u><b>Swap for? Roederer Estate Quartet NV, <br>
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£32</b></u><br>
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<b>Saving: £248 a bottle </b><br>
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Renowned producer Louis Roederer is the name behind the iconic Cristal Champagne - a prized choice among celebrities, especially when served in a <br>
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flashy jeroboam, complete with sparklers in the ‘VIP section' <br>
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of nightclubs. But if the £270 price tag brings tears to your eyes, try <br>
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Cristal's Californian cousin, Quartet. Crafted in the cool Anderson Valley, it offers a taste <br>
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of luxury for almost a tenth of the cost.<br>
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<b><u>Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne, £80</u></b><br>
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<i><u>Swap for? Morrisons The Best Crémant De Limoux Rosé NV, £12.50</u></i><br>
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<b>Saving: £67.50 a bottle </b><br>
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If you're after something pink, grab this super chic Crémant de Limoux from Morrisons - delivering <br>
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luxe for less. With a delicate effervescence and notes of strawberries and cream, it hints at <br>
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pink Champagne at five times the price. And here's a little-known fact: legend has it that the <br>
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art of fizz was first discovered in Limoux, in the South of <br>
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France - though our friends in Champagne may disagree.<br>
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<strong><u>Ace of Spades Champagne, £315</u></strong><br>
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<u><b>Swap for? Segura Viudas Brut Vintage Premium Cava, £12</b></u><br>
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<b>Saving: £303 a bottle</b><br>
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For showstopping-style on a shoestring, skip Harrods, forget <br>
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Jay-Z's red-carpet-ready ‘Ace of Spades' and head to Sainsbury's for Segura Viudas <br>
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premium cava, complete with a shield that's delightfully close to <br>
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a spade. For the price of one bottle of that Champagne, <br>
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you could bag 26 bottles of this classy cava - and, honestly, after <br>
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a few glasses, who's noticing the difference?<br>
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<u><b>Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne, £89</b></u><br>
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<b>Swap for? Fortnum's Franca Contea Franciacorta Brut NV, £26.50</b><br>
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<b>Saving: £62.50 a bottle</b><br>
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‘Blanc de Blancs' meaning ‘white of whites' is the name for bubbles made solely <br>
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from white grapes - typically Chardonnay in Champagne, delivering elegance and finesse, à la Ruinart.<br>
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Prices have crept up as Blanc de Blancs become all <br>
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the rage, but hop over the border to the hidden gem of Franciacorta in Lombardy, northern Italy, and you'll find complex, vinous sips with plenty of flair, like this Fortnum's pick.<br>
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<b>Pol Roger Champagne, £55</b><br>
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<strong>Swap for? Graham Beck Selection Sparkling Wine, £13.50</strong><br>
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<strong>Saving: £41.50 a bottle</strong><br>
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I served these delicious South African bubbles at my wedding - quaffed in record <br>
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time, with nobody realising it wasn't Champagne.<br>
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As well as my own big day, Graham Beck has made an appearance at state events for Nelson Mandela and <br>
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Barack Obama, earning it the title of ‘presidential pick' for sparkling wine.<br>
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And you'll save a few quid compared to other politician favourites,<br>
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like Pol Roger.<br>
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<i><u>Mumm Champagne, £39</u></i><br>
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<b><u>Swap for? Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige, £25</u></b><br>
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<u><b>Saving: £14 a bottle</b></u><br>
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From Marlborough, New Zealand's premier region and home <br>
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of top Brit sip, Sauvignon Blanc, comes a fresh take on fizz.<br>
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Blessed with sunshine and a cool climate, Marlborough produces wines that are vibrant and crisp.<br>
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Here, a blend of traditional Champagne varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, <br>
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and Pinot Meunier - offers an easy-drinking, bright character, <br>
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and a great value sub for Mumm's beloved bubbles.<br>
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<u><i>Veuve Clicquot Champagne, £48</i></u><br>
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<b>Swap for? Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut NV, £14.99</b><br>
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<u>Saving: £33.01 a bottle</u><br>
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First launched over a decade ago at £12.99,<br>
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Aldi has miraculously kept their best-selling Veuve Monsigny Champagne under £15.<br>
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For a sprightly, quaffable style, it's unbeatable at that <br>
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price - perfect for Buck's Fizz at Christmas Day brunch, canapés, and a refreshing post-turkey sip.<br>
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It's worth mentioning that the Premier Cru label at £21.99 is a real step <br>
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up and fantastic value too.<br>
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<b>Moët & Chandon Champagne, £44</b><br>
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<u>Swap for? Chandon Brut Argentina, £23</u><br>
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<b>Saving: £21 a bottle </b><br>
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From Champagne giant Moët & Chandon, Chandon Brut is <br>
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a Champagne-style bubbly from Mendoza, Argentina.<br>
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If you're thinking Mendoza is known for its <br>
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hot climate and big, bold Malbec reds, think again - Chandon's vineyards <br>
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are situated in the foothills of the Andes at over 1,000 <br>
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metres, where cooling influences help retain that desirable freshness <br>
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in the grapes.<br>
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For wine lovers craving more tips, don't forget <br>
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to pick up a copy of my debut wine book, Wine: Taste Pair Pour - the <br>
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perfect stocking filler for everyone, from novices to connoisseurs.<br>
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With every page filled with stylish illustrations and photos, it brings the world of wine to life - dive in to discover <br>
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your favourite grapes and styles, master the art of food <br>
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pairing, and buy and serve wine with confidence. Available at Amazon, Waterstones and all <br>
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major bookstores.<br>
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My web site - ร้านขายดอกพุดสด ใกล้ฉัน (<a href="https://glamorouslengths.com/author/dropmemory0">Estelle</a>)
'Tis the season for decadence