'Tis the season for decadence and a touch of sparkle - and what better way to bring festive cheer <br>
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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 <br>
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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 <br>
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Premier Cru Brut Champagne the best Christmas fizz, outclassing <br>
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Moët & Chandon's 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 <br>
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keep both the palate and the wallet happy.<br>
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<strong>Bollinger Champagne, £58</strong><br>
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<u><b>Swap for? Langlois Crémant Brut Réserve <br>
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NV, £15.95</b></u><br>
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<u><i>Saving: £42.05 a bottle </i></u><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 <br>
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as their Champagnes. Made primarily from Chenin Blanc, which thrives in the Loire, it undergoes 24 months of <br>
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aging, delivering a Crémant with depth that offers a charming 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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<i><u>Swap for? Roederer Estate Quartet NV, £32</u></i><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 <br>
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prized choice among celebrities, 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 in the <br>
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cool Anderson Valley, it offers a taste of luxury for almost a tenth <br>
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of the cost.<br>
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<u><b>Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne, £80</b></u><br>
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<b>Swap for? Morrisons The Best Crémant De Limoux Rosé NV,<br>
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£12.50</b><br>
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<u><strong>Saving: £67.50 a bottle </strong></u><br>
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If you're after something pink, grab this super chic Crémant de Limoux from Morrisons - delivering luxe <br>
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for less. With a delicate effervescence and notes of strawberries and cream, it <br>
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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 in Limoux, in the South <br>
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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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<strong><u>Saving: £303 a bottle</u></strong><br>
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For showstopping-style on a shoestring, skip Harrods, forget Jay-Z's <br>
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red-carpet-ready ‘Ace of Spades' 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 26 bottles of this classy cava - <br>
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and, honestly, after 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,<br>
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£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 <br>
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bubbles made solely from white grapes - typically Chardonnay in Champagne, delivering elegance <br>
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and finesse, à la Ruinart. 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,<br>
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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>Swap for? Graham Beck Selection Sparkling Wine, £13.50</u><br>
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<b><u>Saving: £41.50 a bottle</u></b><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 <br>
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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 <br>
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compared to other politician favourites, like Pol Roger.<br>
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<u><i>Mumm Champagne, £39</i></u><br>
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<u><i>Swap for? Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige, £25</i></u><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 <br>
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sip, Sauvignon Blanc, comes a fresh take on fizz.<br>
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Blessed with sunshine and a cool climate,<br>
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Marlborough produces wines that are vibrant and crisp.<br>
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Here, a blend of traditional Champagne varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and <br>
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Pinot Meunier - offers an easy-drinking, bright character, and a great value <br>
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sub for Mumm's beloved bubbles.<br>
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<b><u>Veuve Clicquot Champagne, £48</u></b><br>
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<b>Swap for? Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut NV, <br>
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£14.99</b><br>
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<strong><u>Saving: £33.01 a bottle</u></strong><br>
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First launched over a decade ago at £12.99, 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,<br>
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canapés, and a refreshing post-turkey sip. It's worth mentioning that the Premier <br>
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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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<i><u>Swap for? Chandon Brut Argentina, £23</u></i><br>
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<b><u>Saving: £21 a bottle </u></b><br>
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From Champagne giant Moët & Chandon, Chandon Brut is a Champagne-style bubbly from Mendoza, Argentina.<br>
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If you're thinking Mendoza is known for its hot climate and big, bold Malbec reds,<br>
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think again - Chandon's vineyards are situated in the foothills of the Andes <br>
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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 of my debut wine book, Wine:<br>
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Taste Pair Pour - the perfect stocking filler for everyone, from novices to <br>
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connoisseurs. With every page filled with stylish illustrations and photos, it brings the world of wine <br>
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to life - dive in to discover your favourite grapes and styles, master the art of food pairing, and buy and <br>
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serve wine with confidence. Available at Amazon, Waterstones and <br>
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all major bookstores.<br>
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Also visit my web blog ... <a href="https://mybookmark.stream/story.php?title=15-%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%93%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%89%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%8C">discuss</a>
'Tis the season for decadence