To replace champagne for parties, certain sparkling wines can be good alternatives. Here are 6 bottles that do more than the job, for less than 8 euros.
The holidays are approaching and the organization of meals begins. If consumed in moderation, wine and especially sparkling wine is a must on French tables. However, buying champagne can quickly blow the budget. This is why the use of alternatives is often popular. You have to know how to choose them carefully so as not to be disappointed, because there is a wide choice of sparkling wines that allow you to open a “bottle of bubbles” for the end of year celebrations.
But how can you find that rare gem easily? We have spotted six wines currently offered for less than 8 euros on the site Vivino“the world’s largest wine app and commerce platform,” with 65 million users. A reference site, which allows you to identify good bottles if you know how to look for them. The wines selected by us receive good marks, even very good marks from connoisseurs: between 3.8 and 4.2 out of 5 and for some, they also benefit from a discount. Among the comments, some fans believe that they are “well worth a champagne as an aperitif or dessert”.
Among them are two Italian wines, three French and one Spanish, enough to leave you with plenty of choice. Head to Spain first, with the “Felix Solis, Mucho Más Sparkling”, a sparkling wine at 7.95 euros per bottle. It is quite sparkling and has fruity notes, ideal for an aperitif. It receives a rating of 3.9/5, which is a guarantee of good quality.
When it comes to Italian wine, with a score of 3.8/5, the “Chiarelli Fragolino Bianco 2022” is a safe bet at a price of 7.98 euros. Rather light in taste, it is very sparkling and fruity, but without being too sweet. A Burgundy wine, the “Veuve Ambal, Brummell Rosé” at 7.75 euros obtains the same score. Sparkling rosé wine can also be an interesting alternative. Notes of red fruits emerge amid fine bubbles. It can be very good with a fruity or chocolate dessert.
This being said, it is surpassed by two Saumurs, which obtain a score of 4/5. It is the same wine, the “Gratien & Meyer Saumur Premium Dry”, but from vintages from two different years, 2021 and 2022. They both benefit from “excellent value for money”, at 7, 86 euros per bottle. “Dry is a flexible dosage, between brut and semi-dry, with an intense bouquet,” describes the Gratien & Meyer website.
However, the gold medal goes to an Italian wine from Veneto which scores 4.2/5 and is the only one in Vivino’s “excellent quality” category. However, its price is approximately the same as the others: 7.95 euros, which is “exceptional value for money”. It is part of the top 20 of the best Italian sparkling wines on the site thanks to its intense nose with flavors of “yellow peach, dried apricot, pineapple, honey, bourbon vanilla”. Quite soft, it is perfect for everyone during the holidays.