On sparkling form...

MERRY Fizzmas! It’s that time of year again to pop corks, celebrate and suffer the consequences the next morning.

But most people’s bubbly of choice, champagne, often comes at a price.

There are however plenty of cheaper alternatives.

Sparkling wines made from champagne’s permitted grape varieties, chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, are produced all over the world and many are very good.

With the help of my seasonalonal panel of colleagues and friends, I’ll be spending thee next three weeks offering up some top tips to make yourr festive season sparkle.

Marks are an average outt of 10 and, because this is anything other than an exactact science, I will mention some me of the awards more esteemedmed industry panels have bestowed on these wines.

Of course these are just a few of the hundreds of sparkling wines available.

First up are the champagne-type fizzes for under £20 and the winner is (with a score of 8.4) Asda’s Extra Special Louis Bernard Vintage Brut 2007. Made by acclaimed champagne house Chanoine Freres, two judges awarded this seriously smooth brioche and citrusdominated bubby top marks. At just £18, it’s a rock-bottom price for a vintage champagne.

Second was one of the best value fizzes I’ve tasted in ages. Hailing from South Africa’s Robertson region, Graham Beck’s ‘The Rhona’ Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009 is a pure chardonnay sparkler that scooped gold at the International Wine and Spirit

is a steal from France’s border with Switzerland. Made in th the champagne way, its impressive aromas lead to subtle citrus flavours.

In fifth (with a score of 6.9) came the IWSC silver winning Champagne Louis Delaunay Brut which is reduced to just £10 in Tesco. Made from all three champagne grapes, there’s plenty of zesty citrus flavour.

Pierre Darcys Champagne NV scored a 6.5

Champagne Veuve Monsigny Brut NV No III. Made by Philizot, it gained IWC Bronze and silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Finally (with a score of £4.9) comes Morrisons IWC silver winning Champagne Brut NV reduced to £15. Produced by Louis Kremer, its delicate citrus character failed to impress.

Next week find out who topped the chart in the over-£20 tipples.