Trvalý odkaz Pridané používateľom Anonymný (bez overenia) dňa So, 11/30/2024 - 17:38
'Tis the season for decadence and a touch of sparkle - and what better way to bring festive cheer than a fridge full of 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 brisk <br>
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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 <br>
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is essential.<br>
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Consumer group Which? has named Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut <br>
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Champagne the best Christmas fizz, outclassing Moët & Chandon's Brut Impérial.<br>
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The supermarket fizz costs just £25 a bottle, 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 <br>
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both the palate and the wallet happy.<br>
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<u><strong>Bollinger Champagne, £58</strong></u><br>
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<b>Swap for? Langlois Crémant Brut Réserve NV, £15.95</b><br>
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<b>Saving: £42.05 a bottle </b><br>
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For Bolly bling without the sting, head to the Loire Valley,<br>
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where the Bollinger family crafts this Crémant using <br>
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the same traditional method as their Champagnes. Made primarily from Chenin Blanc,<br>
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which thrives in the Loire, it undergoes 24 months of aging, delivering <br>
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a Crémant with depth that offers a charming twist on Bollinger's rich Champagne style - with change to <br>
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spare.<br>
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<u><i>Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne, £280</i></u><br>
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<strong><u>Swap for? Roederer Estate Quartet NV, £32</u></strong><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 <br>
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choice among celebrities, especially when served in a flashy jeroboam,<br>
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complete with sparklers in the ‘VIP section' of nightclubs.<br>
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But if the £270 price tag brings tears to your eyes, try Cristal's Californian cousin, Quartet.<br>
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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>Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne, £80</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 luxe for less.<br>
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With a delicate effervescence and notes of strawberries and cream, it hints at pink Champagne at five times the price.<br>
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And here's a little-known fact: legend has it that the art of fizz was first discovered <br>
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in Limoux, in the South of France - though our friends in Champagne may disagree.<br>
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<b>Ace of Spades Champagne, £315</b><br>
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<strong>Swap for? Segura Viudas Brut Vintage Premium Cava, £12</strong><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 Jay-Z's red-carpet-ready <br>
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‘Ace of Spades' and head to Sainsbury's for Segura Viudas premium <br>
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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, you could <br>
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bag 26 bottles of this classy cava - and, honestly, after a few glasses, <br>
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who's noticing the difference?<br>
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<u><strong>Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne, £89</strong></u><br>
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<b>Swap for? Fortnum's Franca Contea Franciacorta Brut NV, £26.50</b><br>
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<u>Saving: £62.50 a bottle</u><br>
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‘Blanc de Blancs' meaning ‘white of whites' <br>
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is the name for bubbles made solely from white grapes <br>
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- 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 the rage, but <br>
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hop over the border to the hidden gem of Franciacorta in Lombardy, northern Italy, and you'll find complex, vinous sips with plenty <br>
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of flair, like this Fortnum's pick.<br>
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<u>Pol Roger Champagne, £55</u><br>
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<u><strong>Swap for? Graham Beck Selection Sparkling Wine, £13.50</strong></u><br>
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<b>Saving: £41.50 a bottle</b><br>
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I served these delicious South African bubbles at my wedding - quaffed in record time, with nobody <br>
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realising it wasn't Champagne. As well as my own big day, Graham <br>
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Beck has made an appearance at state events for Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama, earning it the title <br>
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of ‘presidential pick' for sparkling wine. And you'll save a few quid compared to other politician favourites, like Pol Roger.<br>
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<u>Mumm Champagne, £39</u><br>
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<b>Swap for? Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige, £25</b><br>
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<b>Saving: £14 a bottle</b><br>
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From Marlborough, New Zealand's premier region and home of top Brit sip, Sauvignon Blanc, comes a fresh take <br>
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on fizz. 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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<b>Veuve Clicquot Champagne, £48</b><br>
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<b>Swap for? Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut NV, £14.99</b><br>
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<b>Saving: £33.01 a bottle</b><br>
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First launched over a decade ago at £12.99, Aldi has miraculously <br>
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kept their best-selling Veuve Monsigny Champagne under £15.<br>
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For a sprightly, quaffable style, it's unbeatable <br>
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at that price - perfect for Buck's Fizz at Christmas Day <br>
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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 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 a Champagne-style bubbly from Mendoza, <br>
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Argentina. If you're thinking Mendoza is known for its <br>
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hot climate and big, bold Malbec reds, think again - <br>
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Chandon's vineyards are situated in the foothills of the <br>
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Andes at over 1,000 metres, where cooling influences help retain that desirable freshness in the grapes.<br>
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For wine lovers craving more tips, don't forget to pick up a copy <br>
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of my debut wine book, Wine: Taste Pair Pour - the perfect stocking <br>
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filler for everyone, from novices to connoisseurs. With every page filled with stylish illustrations and photos,<br>
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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 pairing, and buy and serve wine with confidence.<br>
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Available at Amazon, Waterstones and all major bookstores.<br>
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'Tis the season for decadence