Co-op's own-brand champagne has been named the best-value deal for Christmas bubbly in a Which? blind taste test by wine experts.
You might not associate Co-op with luxury booze, but the great value Co-op Les Pionniers NV Champagne, which retails for just £19, stormed to the top spot alongside Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut NV Champagne, which costs significantly more at £35.
The Co-op bubbly scored 78 per cent in the taste test, beating the likes of Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut NV Champagne, which costs £34, and Laurent-Perrier Brut NV Champagne and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV Champagne, which both retail for £35.
Experts called the Co-op champagne "elegant and well-balanced", sayings its flavour was intense and reminiscent of honeycomb and nectarines.
The magazine's editor, Harry Rose, added: "We're delighted to be raising a glass this Christmas to an excellent best-buy champagne for less than £20, proving that you don't have to pay through the nose for delicious fizz."
While Co-op's great-value champagne may have grabbed the top spot, another supermarket's own-brand champagne was disappointing, according to the experts.
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The Spar Marquis Belrive Champagne, which retails at £17.50, scored lowest in the tests, and was deemed to be "bland".
If you're looking for more delicious, wallet-friendly supermarket options, the experts also loved Lidl's Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut and Aldi's Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut, which both retail for just £12 and were the cheapest champagnes on the list.
The experts said both champagnes were "commendable but did not make it into the top flight".
Co-op has announced it expects sales of its winning champagne to rise by 300 per cent in the run-up to Christmas.
The supermarket's champagne buyer, Ben Cahill, said: "Our own-brand champagne has once again proved to be one of the best on the market and it's brilliant to be recognised alongside many of the most revered brands."
And talking of great-quality booze for brilliant prices, don't miss out on Morrison's giant bottles of gin: not just a swanky addition to your drinks cupboard, the supermarket's newly-announced 1.75 litre bottles of Hendrick's Gin, Boodles Gin and Disaronno will help you save up to £15 compared to buying smaller bottles.
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Words by: Deborah Cicurel
Topics: Tasty Drink, Food And Drink