3. WORLD SPARKLING STYLES

This class is a mix of sparklers drawn from all over the planet, excluding English fizz, Champagne and prosecco. A crucial grouping of wines, this is where we welcome world styles which often show great raw materials and sensitive winemaking but at very reasonable prices.

2016 Codorníu, 1872 Vintage Cava SPAIN (£11.99, reduced to £7.99 until

1 January, Waitrose) At the discounted price this is one of the most accomplished and great-value sparkling wines in the world. This style of classically made Spanish sparkling wine lags behind prosecco in terms of popularity but the best versions steam past the Italian wine in production methods (they are made like Champagne/ English sparkling wine). Using local grapes parellada, macabeo and xarel- lo, this is a balanced and refreshing wine and it topped our judging with perfect scores across the board.

NV La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea VENETO, ITALY (£10, Morrisons) This delicate northern Italian rosé is made from pinot nero and pinot bianco and is one of my absolute favourites. It looks smart, the flavour is knockout, with wild cherry blossom notes on the nose and faint cranberry tinges on the palate, and the finish is rewarding, too. This is an awful lot of wine for a tenner!

NV Jansz, Premium Cuvée TASMANIA,

AUSTRALIA (£17.99, reduced to £14.39 until 1 January,

Waitrose) Jansz gives us a ‘vintage Champagne’ flavour for a relatively tiny price. If you are searching for a classically made wine, which uses chardonnay and pinot noir and tastes the part, but doesn’t cost a bomb, this is it. Sheer heaven.