Depending on who’s counting (and how patient they are), a single glass of Champagne contains somewhere between two and 11 million bubbles. Impressive, sure - but the magic of Champagne isn’t just in the fizz. It’s in everything behind it.
First things first: Champagne is a legally protected name. Only sparkling wines made in the Champagne region of France (northeast of Paris) can use it. Anything else is just bubbly.
Yes, a few American producers still label their wines “Champagne,” thanks to a loophole in historical trade agreements. But let’s be honest: when we say champagne, we mean actual Champagne.
Why is Champagne considered to be so special?
It’s all about terroir - that untranslatable French word that wraps up climate, soil, geography and a little bit of magic. Champagne’s cool temperatures and chalky soils are perfect for growing three key grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. These are blended in varying proportions to create the styles we know and love.
Then there’s the method. Champagne is made using the traditional method (méthode champenoise, if you’re feeling fancy), where the second fermentation - the one that makes the bubbles - happens inside the bottle. It’s time-consuming, expensive and labour-intensive. But the payoff is finer bubbles, greater complexity and that creamy, brioche-like texture you just can’t fake.
What made Champagne so famous?
No other wine is so wrapped up in mystery, glamour and mythology. Queen Victoria favoured Perrier-Jouët, Churchill swore by Pol Roger, and James Bond … he’s a Bollinger man.
As for Dom Pérignon - the monk who supposedly invented Champagne and shouted “I’m drinking the stars!” - it’s a lovely tale, but total fiction. Sparkling wine existed well before Dom’s time. The method was described in 1662 by English scientist Christopher Merrett - and those sturdy glass bottles that keep the fizz from bursting out? Also, English. You're welcome, Champagne.
Dom Pérignon, for his part, actually tried to remove bubbles from wine. But he did help refine the process, laying the groundwork for what would become the world’s most iconic sparkling wine.
Which champagne should I choose?
Well, there are different styles for different occasions and moods. Some of us queue for Beyoncé tickets, others listen to Brahms in their car - and, sometimes, the same person does both. Champagne styles work the same way: each has its fans, but you don’t have to pick just one. Let’s pop the cork on five bottles - and two English curveballs - each with its own story.
Veuve Monsigny No.3 Champagne Brut
Think of Non-Vintage Champagne as a chart-topper: it’s everywhere, accessible, and hard not to love. About 80% of Champagne is non-vintage, blending wines from different years to keep the style consistent.
But don’t dismiss it. NV Champagne is the house’s calling card. Recreating the same profile year after year - no matter the harvest - is like Beyoncé still being Beyoncé, whether she’s doing country or punk rock.
This £15 Aldi-exclusive bottle is proof that good NV doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Made by Philizot et Fils, it’s been racking up medals since 2010 and won gold at the 2025 World Champagne Awards.
Expect aromas of apple turnover and lemon shortbread, with bright citrus, minerality, fine bubbles and a warm finish. It’s not about luxury; it’s about joy. Pair with manzanilla olives, a good hot dog or crispy fried chicken.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £15.49 - Aldi
Canard-Duchêne Vintage 2018 Champagne
Vintage Champagne is a snapshot of a single, standout year. Aged for a minimum of three years (often more), it delivers richness, depth and complexity. Drink now - or let it evolve in the cellar.
2018 is already being hailed as “exceptional.” A rocky spring gave way to a golden early summer, with beautifully ripe grapes and soft acidity.
This bottle comes from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards and spent over six years on lees in Canard-Duchêne’s chalk cellars.
With aromas of juicy peach, honeysuckle and melon, on the palate, it’s pure energy - lemon peel, clotted cream, wild raspberries, and a creamy texture. The nutty, lingering finish is made for Comté cheese. A love story in a glass, quite literally - this house was founded in 1868 after a barrel-maker fell for a winemaker’s daughter. Romantic and delicious.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £35 Mix Six (38 per bottle) - Majestic
Collery Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne
Blanc de Blancs means 100% Chardonnay. In blends, it brings brightness. Solo, it’s zesty, refined, and full of promise. This one? Very much worth watching.
Collery picked up its first gold medal in 1904, and it’s barely stopped since. The secret is in a perfect combo of terroir, grapes from Grand Cru vineyards, and the careful hand of cellar master Julien Lefevre.
Five years on the lees brings depth and award-winning finesse. Expect nectarine, citrus peel and spring flowers, with hints of toasted hazelnut. The palate offers grapefruit, pear and a sea-breeze salinity. Excellent with scallops, oysters, or young Camembert.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £33 Mix Six (60 per bottle)- Majestic
Pommery 'Brut Rosé Royal’ Champagne
Rosé Champagne looks pretty, but it’s also serious food wine, structured and often pricier. Why? It takes more effort to make. Champagne rosé is often created by blending a little red wine into the base white, which demands care and precision.
Madame Louise Pommery wasn’t just the “Lady of the Roses.” She also helped steer Champagne towards a drier, Brut style, winning over British drinkers in the 19th century.
Her legacy lives on in this elegant blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Think Sunday garden party: warm pancakes, strawberry jam, roses in bloom. It’s fresh, balanced and effortlessly stylish.
Perfect with duck in orange sauce, or spring lamb. Regal, romantic and quietly powerful.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £40- Waitrose
Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne
Blanc de Noirs means white Champagne from black grapes, usually Pinot Noir and Meunier. Expect richness, body and bold berry notes.
Marilyn Monroe once said she woke up with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck. And honestly, we get it. This wine has presence. This version won a trophy and gold medal at the 2025 International Wine Challenge. It’s Extra Brut (less sugar), but the dryness is sleek and invigorating.
Made from 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Meunier, aged for three years on lees. It opens with grilled peach, raspberry and warm baguette aromas. On the palate: bright citrus, honeyed depth, and a nutty finish. Pair with foie gras or aged cheese - or tuck it away. With the right care, it’ll age gracefully for years.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £63.50 - The Whisky Exchange
Is Champagne still untouchable?
For centuries, yes. But now, English sparkling wine is snapping at its heels, winning blind tastings and major awards.
Why? Warmer summers mean better-ripened grapes. Southern England’s chalky soils are nearly identical to those in Champagne. And English winemakers have upped their game massively.
So, if you’re looking for a Champagne alternative, you might only need to look across the Channel, or the next county over.
Sugrue, The Trouble With Dreams 2020, South Downs
The chalk ridge of the South Downs is England’s answer to Champagne - and Dermot Sugrue is one of its pioneers. He helped put Nyetimber and Wiston on the map, but now he and Ana Sugrue are pouring that knowledge into their own label.
Their 2009 magnum won Best Sparkling in Magnum at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards. That one is sold out (no surprise). But you can still grab the 2020 - only 7,500 bottles made.
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this bottle is all English charm: sea breeze, sun-warmed chalk, orchard fruit and poise. Age-worthy until at least 2035. A dream with altitude.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £49- Sugrue South Downs
Chapel Down Rosé Sparkling
Each year, Decanter names just 50 wines as Best in Show - their highest honour. In 2024, only one English wine made the cut: this ethereal, traditional-method rosé from Kent. That’s three Best in Show wins now for Chapel Down, and a big red pin on the global wine map for England.
It’s an unusual blend: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Meunier - and a twist of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir Précoce (an early-ripening, floral version of Pinot Noir).
The result is light, elegant, and completely summery, with strawberry, redcurrant and peony petal notes. It’s made for summer pudding, picnics or just a patch of sunshine.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £32 Mix Six (34 per bottle)- Majestic
So, there you have it. Five standout Champagnes worth popping. Intrigued by those English sparkling curveballs? Discover more sip-worthy bottles here.
