WHITES & FIZZ

SPARKLING

2014 Finest* Blanquette de Limoux 1531, Languedoc, France

£9, Tesco

MADE by the famous Sieur d’Arques and regularly featured in my column because it is such a star wine, this is a keen, racy sparkler that uses the local grape Mauzac to great effect in this bone-dry wine. Use straight or in cocktails.

NV Prima Perla, Grand Réserve Brut Chardonnay, Jean-Claude Mas, Languedoc, France

£12.99, or £9.99 in a ‘mix six’ deal until Jan 30, Majestic

IT’S hard to imagine a finer value Blanc de Blancs. Dry, complex and reeking of class, I have recommended this to my pals instead of champagnes that sell for two or three times the price.

NV Cleto Chiarli, Lambrusco Pruno Nero, EmiliaRomagna, Italy

£10.99, waitrose cellar.com

MADE from 20-yearold Lambrusco Grasparossa vines, this is a stunning, bold, red berry-soaked Lambrusco with a dry finish. it would be superb with Christmas dinner, whether you favour turkey, goose or roast beef. It’s also particularly tasty with hearty canapes.

NV Jansz, Premium Rosé, Tasmania, Australia

£17.50, Oddbins

YEAR after year, sparklers from Jansz make my 100 Best Australian Wines list because they are well made and such great value. This is a classic example of an intricately made wine with a price that’s much lower than champagne, but a flavour that could bear a £50 price tag. I don’t know how they do it.

2006 LaurentPerrier, Vintage, Champagne, France

£46.99, reduced to £34.99 until Jan 3, Waitrose

MADE from equal halves of chardonnay and pinot noir, this is my pick of the vintage champagnes for Christmas. The highly competitive price is alluring and the flavour rewards with richness, class and a heroically long finish.