Best champagne

Our expert wine panel blind-tasted 19 non-vintage champagnes from big brands and supermarkets for the December 2021 issue of Which? magazine.

They rated champagnes from brands, such as Moët & Chandon and Piper-Heidsieck, alongside 14 supermarket own labels including cheap champagnes from Aldi and Lidl, and options from supermarkets including Asda, M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and more.

Our test revealed four top Best Buys that will get celebrations off to a flying start, as well as a brilliant budget bubbly that offers a splash of luxury without breaking the bank.

Best champagne

Only logged in Which? members can view our test results and tasting notes below, and discover if it's really worth splashing out on pricey champagne brands. 

If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the champagnes on test. To get instant access, join Which? today.

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All prices are correct as of October 2021. Wines that are vegan or vegetarian are labelled as such.

Aldi Philizot et Fils Blanc de Noirs Champagne

£18 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Aldi says its Blanc de Noirs champagne has notes of redcurrants and blackcurrant jam, with a light lingering finish. So is this blend of pinot noir and pinot meunier one of our top picks?

To find out how Aldi's offering measured up to rival supermarkets, join Which? to unlock our test results

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Aldi.

Asda Henri Cachet Brut NV Champagne

£14.50 for 75cl

Asda describes its Henri Cachet champagne as 'well balanced and fruity' with 'lingering flavours of fresh citrus and hints of vanilla'. How did it fare with our expert tasting panel?

Find out whether this affordable fizz impressed - join Which? to unlock our test results

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda.

Co-op Les Pionniers Non-Vintage Champagne

£19 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Co-op reckons its Les Pionniers champagne is so good that you'll be hard pressed to find a better fizz for less than £20. Did our experts agree?

To see whether this champagne was one of our favourites, join Which? to unlock our test results

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Co-op.

Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top Brut Champagne

£28 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Combining  blackcurrant and lemon with a slight yeastiness, this fizz promises to be 'lively and moreish'. Did it make the Best Buy grade?

To see which champagnes impressed the most, join Which? to unlock our test results

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Lanson Le Black Label Brut Champagne

£35 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Founded in 1760, Lanson is one of the oldest champagne houses. Did its Black Label champagne earn the praise of our judging panel?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out if it's worth the expense.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Lidl Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut NV

£13.50 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Lidl's Comte de Senneval champagne has a temptingly low price. Can it rival more expensive bottles when it comes to taste?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and see how this budget-friendly bubbly scored.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Lidl.

Lidl Veuve Delattre Champagne Brut NV

£12 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

This is the cheapest fizz on test - a bottle of Lidl's Veuve Delattre costs around a third of the price of luxury champagnes we tested such as Moët & Chandon and Taittinger. Is it a bargain worth snapping up?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out if this cheap champagne is any match for the big brands.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Lidl.

M&S Champagne Delacourt Brut NV

£20 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Crafted using chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier grapes from France and blended with reserve wines, M&S promises flavours of brioche, vanilla, red apple and peach. Does it make for a show-stopping champagne?

To reveal our expert panel's verdict, join Which? to unlock our test results

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.

M&S Louis Vertay Brut NV Champagne

£17 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Notes of red apples and brioche make for a rounded and versatile Champagne, according to M&S. But was it favoured by our expert judges?

Find out whether it's worth a trip to your local M&S - join Which? to unlock our test results

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.

Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV Champagne

£38 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

As the most expensive champagne we tested, Moët & Chandon claims its Impérial Brut offers a bright fruitiness and an elegant maturity. Is it worth splashing out on?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out how this famous brand was rated.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Morrisons Adrien Chopin Champagne

£19 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Morrisons Adrien Chopin champagne earned a Best Buy in our 2020 taste test. But champagnes change each year, so there's no guarantee that it scored as well in this year's test.

Did it impress for a second year running? Join Which? to unlock our test results.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons.

Morrisons The Best Brut Premier Cru Champagne

£21 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Morrisons claims its Premier Cru champagne is noticeably richer and more elegant than standard blends, with 'fine bubbles, intense flavours and a long refined finish'. So was it crowned a Best Buy?

For our full verdict, join Which? to unlock our test results.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne

£35 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Piper-Heidsieck's signature cuvée is made with a blend of 100 crus, giving a 'lively, subtle and light' champagne with flavours of fresh pear and apple. Is this a brand you can rely on for a first-class fizz?

Find out how it compared with other premium brands including Moet & Chandon and Lanson - join Which? to unlock our test results.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Sainsbury’s Landric Champagne Brut

£25 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

According to Sainsbury's, this champagne is 'rich and beautifully balanced, with a delicate mousse and long, fresh finish'. It's one of the priciest own labels we tested, so is it worth spending more on?

To find out whether it's a good bet for Sainsbury's shoppers, join Which? to unlock our test results.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Sainsbury’s.

Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Blanc De Noirs Champagne

£21 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

This is the cheaper of the two Sainsbury's offerings we tested, and the name 'Blanc de Noirs' refers to champagnes made purely from black grapes. Sainsbury's describes it as 'fresh and fruity with delicate hints of toasty biscuit'. Did it win over our panel?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and see how this champagne compared with its supermarket rivals.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Sainsbury’s.

Spar Marquis Belrive Champagne

£19 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Spar suggests serving this champagne, made with 61% pinot noir and 39% pinot meunier, as an aperitif. How does it compare with others we tested?

To find out if this fizz was a favourite of the panel, join Which? to unlock our test results.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Spar.

Taittinger Brut Reserve NV Champagne

£36 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Taittinger say the hallmark of its fine champagnes is the high proportion of chardonnay, which is key to elegance and finesse. So did its unique blend make for a winning wine?

To find out if it was a top-scoring bubbly,  join Which? to unlock our test results.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne

£21 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Tesco says this champagne has extra-long ageing, giving 'elegant flavours of citrus, green apple and brioche with a fine mousse'. Is it recommended by our expert panel?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out whether it's the perfect choice of party fizz.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Tesco.

Waitrose Blanc De Noirs Brut NV Champagne

£24 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian

Waitrose says its Blanc De Noirs champagne is 'full, rich and fruity'. So was it the star of the show in our taste test?

Find out where it ranked overall - join Which? to unlock our test results.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Best way to chill champagne

Follow our tips for chilling your champagne to make sure you serve it at the right temperature and maximise the flavour:

• Plan ahead Put your champagne in the fridge for at least a couple of hours before you plan to serve it. If you’re chilling lots of bottles at once, you’ll need longer. 
• Chill with ice and water If your fridge is full, an alternative way to chill your bottles is to place them in a container filled with ice and water – this works better than ice alone. 
• Use your freezer as a backup If you forget to chill it in advance, you can pop the bottle into the freezer for 20 minutes as a last resort. Just remember to set a timer.
• Don’t serve it straight from the fridge Unless you prefer your champagne really cold, take the bottle out 10 minutes before serving, as the taste and aroma will be stunted if the champagne is too cold.

Find out how to buy the best wine cooler with our expert guide.

How to taste and serve champagne

Watch our video to find out what our experts are looking for in a champagne and to get top tips for opening the bottle without wasting a drop.

Here are some key things our experts look for when tasting and judging champagnes:

• Smell - freshness, fruitiness and some savoury richness
• Taste - good acidity and fruitiness
• Younger wines - fresh and fruity taste
• Older wines - toasty, savoury character

How long champagne lasts for and how to store it

The shelf life of your champagne depends on the style. Non-vintage champagnes can last unopened for three to four years, while vintage champagnes (from a single year's harvest) can be kept for as long as 10 years. Some people will prefer to store it for a while before opening, to allow for it to age. 

To prevent your champagne ageing too quickly, our experts recommend storing bottles standing up in a dark place with a cool, constant temperature.

Once opened, it's best to drink champagne within three to five days - after this, it may lose its fizz. 

Best champagne, prosecco and sparkling wine preservers - find out which preservers will prevent your champagne from going flat with our expert guide.

Best food to have with champagne

We asked our experts for their tips when matching food with champagne:

• If you like it hot, serve with spice Fizz accentuates chilli, so a glass of champagne pairs well with hot, spicy dishes 
• Pair with vegetarian food Champagne tends to work better with vegetarian dishes, as opposed to heavier meaty options
• Consider sweetness Dry champagnes are easier to match with food. Sweeter wines such as prosecco are best served without food.
• Smoked salmon and champagne The popular pairing of champagne with smoked salmon may be influenced more by status rather than taste, as historically both were considered expensive luxuries. As long as you choose a dry style of champagne, it's not a bad match.

They also pointed out it's a great drink to have without food (in moderation, of course), so works well as a starting point for festivities before you move on to mellower options with your meal.

For more advice on which wines to pair with your favourite foods, see our expert guide to matching food and wine.

How we tested champagne

Our panel of four independent wine experts blind-tasted 19 non-vintage champagnes. We asked supermarkets to nominate two widely available champagnes that they thought would stand up to the bestselling brands, including a premium own label costing up to £38 and, if available, a second, lower-priced own label champagne.

• The taste test was blind, so the panellists didn’t know which champagne they were trying.
• Each expert tried the champagnes in a different order to avoid any bias.
• After all the champagnes had been tasted, the panel agreed on a score for each bottle and which ones deserved to be Best Buys. 

Our expert tasting panel included:

Kathryn McWhirter - wine expert and co-author (with Charles Metcalfe) of The Wine and Food Lover’s Guide to Portugal

Charles Metcalfe - speaker, author, and co-founder of the International Wine Challenge

Sumita Sarma - wine writer and founder of wine consultancy Sumilier

Peter McCombie - Master of Wine, restaurant wine consultant, speaker, writer and critic

How to recycle champagne bottles

Glass bottles can usually go in your household recycling bin. If your council doesn’t accept them, you can take them to a local bottle bank.

The recycling process can vary depending on where you live, so make sure to check with your local area if bottles require rinsing first and whether metal screw caps should be replaced or recycled separately.

Natural corks can’t go in your recycling bin. You can recycle natural corks through Recorked UK – either by posting them or dropping them off at your nearest collection point.

Synthetic corks, which are made of plastic, can’t be recycled. They should be disposed of in your general waste bin.