Christmas Fizz
Sainsbury’s Blanc de Noirs Champagne
If it’s great Champagne on a budget you’re after, this is probably as good as it gets. Amongst it’s raft of accolades this year, Blanc de Noirs came second only to Veuve Cliquot in a blind taste test by Which?, despite being around half the price. With the judges including Tim Atkin and Charles Metcalfe, this is high praise indeed. It’s made from a 40% Pinot Noir/60% Pinot Meunier blend which creates a rich & creamy mouthfeel with subtle red fruit notes. £15.98/bottle from Sainsbury’s
DeuS Champagne Beer
DeuS is brewed with the finest summer barley and hops, before heading off to the Champagne region of France to undergo the same lengthy ‘methode Champenoise’ maturation procedure that is normally reserved for Champagne. The entire process takes more than a year but the result is genuinely impressive. DeuS is not a “beer” in the traditional sense; with flavours of anise, fresh malt, herbal hops and a slightly bready yeast note, it truly combines the best of two worlds. £12.59 from www.utobeer.co.uk and selected Waitrose
Golden Star Tea
This non alcoholic sparkling tea drink is produced by hand steeping small batches of the finest quality Silver Needle Jasmine tea from the Fujian province of China, sweetening with raw sugarcane juice, and finishing with a mild fermentation that combines age-old traditions with modern winemaking techniques. With its flush of effervescence, it’s reminiscent of fine Champagne and has a delicate note of brioche with a floral jasmine nose. £7.99 for a 730ml bottle from Waitrose and independents
Once Upon A Tree Ribston Lawn Perry
Fresh from winning this year’s International Cider & Perry competition Champions Cup, Once Upon A Tree has transferred their professional wine making skills to Herefordshire’s finest fruit. They identified an historic nearby perry orchard at Ribston Lawn and used it to create this unique perry. It certainly has impressive wine-like qualities, with subtle fruit notes and a creamy brioche mouthfeel as well as a quality fizz that you would expect from Champagne. £9.95 per 75cl bottle from www.onceuponatree.co.uk
Belgars Slightly Sparkling Fruit Wines
Get fruity with your bubbly this Christmas with this new range of Slightly Sparkling Fruit Wines from Belgars. Available in Raspberry, Peach and Blackcurrant, they combine gentle sparkling wine notes with with real fruit juices for a light and refreshing Champagne alternative. They’re only 8% abv, so you won’t peak too early on these either. £3.99 from ASDA, Co-op and Budgens.
