'Tis the season for decadence and a touch of sparkle - and what better way to <br>
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bring festive cheer than a fridge full of fizz for parties <br>
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and impromptu gatherings?<br>
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Champagne is admittedly my bubbly of choice - I love both poised,<br>
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elegant styles with brisk acidity and the richer, pastry-like,<br>
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gastronomic pours. But with Christmas all about sharing, toasting, and big get-togethers, stocking up is essential.<br>
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Consumer group Which? has named Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne the best Christmas fizz, outclassing Moët & Chandon's <br>
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Brut Impérial. 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 both <br>
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the palate and the wallet happy.<br>
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<b><u>Bollinger Champagne, £58</u></b><br>
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<b>Swap for? Langlois Crémant Brut Réserve NV,<br>
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£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 family crafts this Crémant using the same traditional method as their Champagnes.<br>
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Made primarily from Chenin Blanc, which thrives in the Loire, it undergoes 24 months of aging, delivering a Crémant <br>
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with depth that offers a charming twist on Bollinger's rich Champagne <br>
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style - with change to spare.<br>
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<i><u>Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne, £280</u></i><br>
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<b>Swap for? Roederer Estate Quartet NV, £32</b><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,<br>
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especially when served in a flashy jeroboam, complete <br>
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with sparklers in the ‘VIP section' of nightclubs.<br>
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But if the £270 price tag brings tears to your eyes,<br>
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try Cristal's Californian cousin, Quartet. Crafted <br>
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in the cool Anderson Valley, it offers a taste of <br>
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luxury for almost a tenth of the cost.<br>
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<strong>Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne, £80</strong><br>
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<u>Swap for? Morrisons The Best Crémant De Limoux Rosé NV, £12.50</u><br>
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<strong>Saving: £67.50 a bottle </strong><br>
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If you're after something pink, grab this super chic Crémant de <br>
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Limoux from Morrisons - delivering luxe for less. 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 <br>
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the art of fizz was first discovered 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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<b>Swap for? Segura Viudas Brut Vintage Premium Cava, £12</b><br>
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<b>Saving: £303 a bottle</b><br>
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For showstopping-style on a shoestring, skip Harrods, <br>
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forget Jay-Z's red-carpet-ready ‘Ace of Spades' <br>
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and head to Sainsbury's for Segura Viudas premium cava, complete with a shield that's delightfully close to a spade.<br>
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For the price of one bottle of that Champagne, you could bag <br>
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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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<b>Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne, £89</b><br>
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<b>Swap for? Fortnum's Franca Contea Franciacorta Brut NV, £26.50</b><br>
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<b><u>Saving: £62.50 a bottle</u></b><br>
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‘Blanc de Blancs' meaning ‘white of whites' is the name for <br>
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bubbles made solely from white grapes - typically Chardonnay in Champagne,<br>
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delivering elegance and finesse, à la Ruinart. Prices have crept up as <br>
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Blanc de Blancs become all the rage, but hop over the border to the <br>
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hidden gem of Franciacorta in Lombardy, northern Italy, and you'll <br>
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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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<u><strong>Swap for? Graham Beck Selection Sparkling Wine, <br>
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£13.50</strong></u><br>
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<strong><u>Saving: £41.50 a bottle</u></strong><br>
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I served these delicious South African bubbles at my wedding - <br>
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quaffed in record 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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<u><b>Mumm Champagne, £39</b></u><br>
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<strong><u>Swap for? Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige, £25</u></strong><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 <br>
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that are vibrant and crisp. Here, a blend of traditional Champagne varieties - Chardonnay,<br>
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Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier - offers an easy-drinking, bright character, 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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<strong>Swap for? Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut NV, £14.99</strong><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 kept their best-selling <br>
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Veuve Monsigny Champagne under £15. For a sprightly, quaffable style, it's unbeatable at that price <br>
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- 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 <br>
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a real step up and fantastic value too.<br>
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<strong><u>Moët & Chandon Champagne, £44</u></strong><br>
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<b><u>Swap for? Chandon Brut Argentina, <br>
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£23</u></b><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 <br>
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Champagne-style bubbly from Mendoza, Argentina.<br>
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If you're thinking Mendoza is known for its hot climate and big, <br>
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bold Malbec reds, think again - Chandon's vineyards are situated in the foothills of the Andes at over 1,000 metres, where <br>
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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 of my <br>
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debut wine book, <a href="http://www.aibangjia.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=291832">ขาย wine</a>:<br>
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Taste Pair Pour - the perfect stocking filler <br>
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for everyone, from novices to connoisseurs. With every page filled with stylish illustrations and photos, it <br>
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brings the world of wine to life - dive in to discover 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.
'Tis the season for decadence