8 Great Value Champagne Alternatives Under £15

Champagne is famously pricey and more so now than ever. Times are tough at the minute, but in good news, there are a lot of bubbly beauties coming in at under £15 that give champers a run for its money. We’ve highlighted the best bubbly bargains for you under £15 so what are you waiting for, let’s get the party started!

Cava Brut NV

One of the better-known Champagne alternatives, Cava is a must when you’re out hunting for value. This Sainsbury’s bottle in particular makes for fantastic foodie fizz. The signature grape trio of Paradella, Macabeo and Xarel-lo go through the same production methods as they would if this was Champagne, except they’re Spanish and more readily available… and therefore way more affordable. It’s wonderfully fresh and dry, with the subtle savoury profile you expect from Cava, filled with pineapple tang and citrus zest aromas. A glass of this would sit great alongside some smoked salmon or fish and chips.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £5.85 Sainsbury’s

Albastrele Blanc De Cabernet Sparkling Brut Nv

It’s our pleasure to introduce you to this white, sparkling Cabernet Sauvignon from a country steeped in ancient winemaking heritage: Moldova. A white sparkling Cabernet is not something you see every day that’s for sure. The biting chill of the Cimislia vineyards ensures an aromatic freshness to the fruits and the profile is lovely and rich with a friendly, frothy feel. Absolutely delicious and something a bit different.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%    
Find here: £9.99 Laithwaites

Prestige Cava Brut

This is a wonderfully rustic representation of a traditional Cava using local Macabeo and Parallada grapes from northeast Spain. It’s creamy, vibrant and so flavoursome with hints of apple, lime, peaches and a very gentle nuttiness. You can’t go wrong with this as a Cava starting point, and the value with the case is fantastic.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £48 Case of 6 so £8 per bottle (usually £60!) M&S

Crémant de Loire NV

This is another fantastic value option from Lidl’s sparkling range. Crémant is another wine made with the same method as champagne. It has a history of being looked down upon, but these days, the producers are far better respected, and drinkers are catching onto its serious value for money. This version is a nicely balanced bubbly with class that tastes wonderfully crisp and clean. A bold dollop of fruit drives it home.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £8.49 Lidl

Crémant du Jura NV

Shh, don’t tell Aldi but £8.99 for this is a steal. It’s another traditionally made sparkling Chardonnay from Jura in France that’s ridiculously reliable. Terrifically light on its feet, the apples feel crisp, the citrus feels ripe, it really is pretty faultless for under £10. Who needs champagne ‘eh?

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £8.99 Aldi

Definition Cava NV

This Catalan Cava is perfect for easy drinking party fizz with a classy feel beyond the price. Baked yellow apples come through and subtle savoury hazelnut characteristics are very enjoyable too. This may not absolutely blow you away, but it’s consistently excellent and you’ll want to return for each sip.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £8.99 Mix Six Price (£9.99 usually!) Majestic

Cremant d’Alsace

This an extremely well-rounded Cremant for the price, aged for over 12 months by the respected Alsace producer, Cave du Roi Dagobert. On the one hand, there’s bold light on its feet freshness with juicy melon and sweet lemon, and on the other, a creamy buttery brioche flavour. The balance is just right, and it’s fantastically food friendly too!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £12 Sainsbury’s

Crémant de Bordeaux, Louis Vallon, Banc de Noirs

One of the more complex offerings to be sniffed out under £15 (okay technically it’s £15, but you’ll be glad we included it once you try it). It’s easy to get a well-crafted feel from this one, with white peach and almonds on the nose, followed up by vivid red apple skin and brioche notes in the mouth. Combine with the delicate bubbles throughout and it feels very complete indeed. Sparkling wine from Bordeaux? Give it a go!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £15 Sainsbury’s

These are eight value monsters, but there are even more beautiful bubbles whatever you’re looking to spend in our Best Sparkling Wines article here! And we know some of you will be gutted to see no Prosecco here, but fear not because we have a whole guide on The Best Proseccos Under £15 too!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 104

We are together for Episode 104 and the season finale of the Bring a Bottle podcast! This will be the last episode for a while, so it’s a time for reflecting on the trends and value monsters of the year just passed and predict the trends for 2023. Top cocktails of the year, Mezcal, Martini, Dry January tips, a Buy it or Bin it that misses the mark and much more! Happy New Year drinkers!

What’s In Our Glass?

The perfect party wine, we’re loving the Graffigna Malbec Genuine Collection in this episode. Malbec is probably the greatest all-rounder red there is, and for an Uco Valley bottle, this is amazing value; concentrated with ripe berries and bursting with flavour.
Helena brings DeRosier raspberry chocolates along which go perfectly with it, and Aidy suggests pigs in blankets or aged gouda as another perfect match. To be honest, whether main or dessert, this elegant easy-drinking Malbec loves most dishes!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £9 Sainsbury’s (often on offer so keep your eyes peeled!)

Drinks News

We look back at the most popular cocktails of the year and what do you think number one was? Dirty Shirly was a surprising 3rd, and Espresso Martin 2nd... what would your top be? Listen to find out!
Also, the Duke of Sussex pub has dipped into the Royal controversy by realising a, ‘Harry’s Bitter’ brew... some love it, some think it’s going too far, what about you?

What will be a big drinks trend next year?

We’d love to see Mezcal trending in 2023, and with Margarita and Picante so popular, tequila is getting there but we’re predicting more short serves. Helena’s crystal ball also fancies Vermouth to pick up more of the spotlight so we shall see!

Bang for Buck

A big shout out to Crémant de Loire from Lidl, a Chenin-based Champagne alternative that punches well above its pricepoint. Lees aging, a splash of Chardonnay, and weight and waxiness from Chenin – the balance is impeccable, and it would sing if served up beside something like salmon mousse.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £8.99 Lidl

Martini

If you love a Martini then you don’t want to miss this segment. Opposing the most famous Martini drinker of them all, Aidy says to never shake them! He likes to stir his Savoia vermouth in, whilst Helena prefers Cocchi vermouth. Sweet vermouth can overpower the vodka or gin in your glass, so consider trying a ‘vermouth rinse’ if you find this problematic!

Dry January

We’ve been singing the praises of Franklin and Sons tonic and soda for a while, and they’re perfect for a Dry January stand alone. Also, consider Wednesday’s Domaine for a great value non-alcoholic wine. It’s creative, fun and tasty to boot!

New Year’s Eve

What is our favourite cocktail for the big night? For a sparkling option, French 75 is hard to beat. For something with oomph, Death in the Afternoon! Or... what about Aidy’s homemade experiment? Grand Marnier, honeycomb syrup, bitters all shaken and topped up with Cava! Who knows, maybe that will be the top cocktail of 2023?

Buy it or Bin it

It looks like a dark Irn Bru, hits you with aniseed and sambuca... but there’s chocolate in there too? It’s Chocolate Absinthe Liqueur, by Devil’s Botany. The bottle is beautiful, but the drink inside doesn’t quite hit the mark with us when trying it neat. However, to bring balance to a savoury cocktail, it may well be ideal!

Listen in to our final podcast episode for all this and more!

What Should You Do With Leftover Wine?

Humble brag, but we like to think that if you’ve followed our guidance and recommendations then leftover wine won’t be much of an issue because they’ll simply be too delicious to forget about… but if you do find yourself with some leftover wine that you don’t want to drink for whatever reason, here are some ideas before pouring it away. Waste not want not!

Basic Preservation

Let’s start with the fundamentals to preserve what’s left of the wine in the best way possible. Air is the main thing that kills wine off, so re-cork if rather than leaving it exposed! Having a reusable cork ready to use that fits most bottles will be handy, and we’ve got some other tips for you too. Perhaps the celebrations have stopped early and there’s still bubbly to spare? Get yourself a Champagne stopper on hand to keep the bubbles and freshness for as long as possible. Also, oxidation is slower at colder temperatures so make sure your re-corked wine is refrigerated. After that, ensure that it’s upright to limit the surface area of wine exposed to oxygen.

If you regularly find yourself with half a bottle leftover, then consider purchasing some empty half bottles to pour it into. This way, there’ll be considerably less air getting at the wine and it will stay fresher for longer!

Cooking Wine

Different wines last for different amounts of time once opened, and even then, it can be down to personal preference whether a wine is still good to use or not. Generally, wine starts oxidising considerably after 24 hours and beyond that, the infamous vinegary quality will build and build.

Red wines can sometimes take on an acrid quality even quicker than whites, but generally, the shelf life of whites to be used in cooking is slightly less. Here at The Three Drinkers we’ve used wines that were opened a couple of months ago in cooking with no issues, so judge it on a case-by-case basis. Some oxidation is fine, but if it’s noticeably vinegary and acidic then leave it out.

Also, it may sound obvious but if you’re just using a small splash of wine, the quality of the bottle doesn’t matter too much. After all, it’s being heated to a high temperature and reduced to the fundamental essence of the flavouring. However, if you’re cooking something that relies on the wine – Bolognese or Bourguignon for example, then you don’t want to put your whole meal at risk by using a dodgy leftover wine.

And it’s not just adding wine into a pot that can create something delicious. There are all kinds of fantastic sauces, butters, glazes, and marinades that make great use of wine, especially red wine, so experiment away.

DIY vinegar

If you really aren’t too keen on the bottle, then you probably won’t want to risk spoiling a hard-cooked meal with it either, so how about DIY vinegar? Nature will take its course with this once you leave the wine in a covered container (you can get specialist containers if you’re regularly doing this), and you can nudge it along with symbiotic bacteria and yeast cultures if required, turning alcohol into acetic acid. Honestly, it sounds a lot more complicated than it is and it’s a really interesting experiment to have on the go!

The time taken can range between two weeks to two months, and if you’re using a particularly strong wine, it’s worth diluting slightly because the bacteria struggle with too much alcohol.  The same goes for excessive sulfites. Keep it in a warm place, check on it every so often and voila! Your own red or white wine vinegar, ready to use in salad dressings, sauces, marinades, reductions, and pickling.

Vacuum Pumps

This is a slightly more extreme measure to take sure, but vacuum pumps aren’t too expensive and work really well to preserve open wines by clicking when the air has been removed from the bottle. There are plenty of these devices, often called, ‘Wine Saver’s but Vacu-Vin are a reliable brand if you want to take that extra step to preserve your wine.

Inert Gas Preservation

Now, this is worth it if you’re a real wine enthusiast, these machines pierce the cork with a needle to extract the wine you want to drink, replacing it with argon gas simultaneously for ultimate freshness preservation. The Coravin Model is most enthusiasts’ go-to machine, allowing you to pour any amount of any wine, without removing the cork at all!

Sangria

There’s a chance your wine may be too far gone for this, or perhaps you really haven’t enjoyed the bottle, in which case maybe ignore this one. But, if you still enjoyed your red wine and just have some leftovers that are on the turn, try Sangria. With so many different fruits, loads of ice and a generous sloshing of brandy, your wine will have new life breathed into it. Let the fruit rest with sugar and a little cinnamon for a while before using, and any unpleasantness from the wine should be tapered off by the bolder flavours and gorgeous sweetness of the mix. Sangria saves the day and not for the first time!

Mulled wine

From summer to winter; mulled wine is one of the best ways to get the most out of leftover wine in the chilly months. Simmering your wine slowly with brandy and warming spices (star anise, cloves, cinnamon) is incredibly satisfying to watch over, and there’s no set-in-stone recipe, so you can add in various fruits, lemon zest, sugar etc. to your personal taste. The key to mulled wine is low heat, giving time for everything to infuse whilst it cools down. Ideally for you, we have an entire episode of our Bring a Bottle podcast dedicated to walking you through it!

Episode 71: How to Do Mulled Wine Properly

Wine ice cubes

If there’s any food and drink in the kitchen that needs preserving, it isn’t long before we turn to the freezer let’s face it. So, can wine be frozen? Well, if you’re freezing a substantial amount with the expectation of returning to it and sipping it from a glass in the usual way, you’ll probably be disappointed. The wine won’t be the same once it’s thawed, but wine ice cubes are great for adding intensity to sangria, and still work perfectly in cooking. Just make sure you don’t freeze the whole bottle because that could get messy.

Moisturiser

A less conventional usage this one, but why not give it a go? It’s becoming more well known in recent years that the antioxidant high polyphenols in red wine can be beneficial for the skin, protecting it from free radicals, which are basically unstable atoms that can damage cells and speed up aging). Some research shows that the polyphenols also nourish and exfoliate the skin, and whilst the science isn’t of concrete certainty, numerous luxury brands have popped up using this idea. Brad Pitt’s Le Domaine, Caudalie, Westwell and Pelegrims to name a few. Apply it to your skin in any way you like, but why not try a splash of leftover wine in the bath? It might sound strange, but some people are chuffed with the results!

Compost

If there’s really no other use for your wine, then this has got to be better than pouring it down the plughole. Leftover wine and beer can really kickstart a compost into getting moving, with the yeast presence helping considerably. It’s an easy way to add liquid to the heap, the nitrogen helps too, and red wine in particular can activate good bacteria to enhance plant growth should you eventually use your compost for that. Don’t add too much though, because this can actually have the opposite effect and harm the bacteria that are key to a successful compost.

Apparently, the average British household throws away two glasses of wine a week, and as you can see, there’s really no excuse. If you want to take a look at some wines that you’ll almost certainly finish before you even have to worry about leftovers, then check out our very best Reds and Whites here!

8 Sparkling Wine Cocktails To Serve This Festive Season

You can’t beat adding some fizz and sparkle to festive proceedings with sparkling wine cocktails. They’re super simple to make, refreshing, delicious and they’re amazingly versatile when it comes with food pairings. From classics to more unusual concoctions, these are 8 of the best cocktails using various sparkling wines!

Negroni Sbagliato

Don’t be surprised if younger family members bring this cocktail up, because it went viral on TikTok recently after House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy announced her love for it. In short, it’s a Prosecco Negroni. This makes for a lighter Negroni, perfect if you’re not a big fan of the usual bitterness Negronis can have. An extra dry Prosecco like Giusti Rosalia works perfectly because the slight sweetness counteracts the spirits’ bitterness.

Ingredients
25ml Prosecco
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
orange slice (to garnish)

 Method
Pour the Campari and vermouth into a rocks glass and fill it with ice. Top up with Prosecco. Stir gently to chill and garnish with the orange slice. Voilà!

Mimosa

Any sparkling wine of your choice will do for a Mimosa, but we’ve gone for Cava. It’s the light and fresh option that’s perfect for pretty much any special occasion, and Christmas is no different! Just sparkling wine and orange juice here, so it’s perfect to ratio to your liking. If you’ve got a sparkling wine that you particularly love, go heavy on that! But if Nan’s on her 3rd Baileys before the turkey’s even out of the oven? Maybe it’s a good idea to up that OJ before handing her one.

Ingredients
100ml Cava
100ml orange juice 

Method
It’s just a case of combining the two in flutes here, so make sure you’ve got a sparkling wine that you love, and a good quality orange juice! It couldn’t be simpler.

Top Tip: Remember, chill everything to avoid using ice as this will kill off the bubbles!

Bellini

Famously easy to make, this a reliably refreshing Italian cocktail with only two ingredients – Prosecco and peach. It was supposedly named after Renaissance painter Giovanni Bellini because the drink’s gorgeous colour reminded the Venetian bartender of Bellini’s warm colour palette!

Ingredients
60ml peach purée
160ml Prosecco
Peach slice (garnish)

Method
You can buy peach purée but unless you’re a Bellini lover, you probably won’t have it in the cupboard. All you have to do is blend some peeled peaches until smooth and refrigerate. When it’s time to serve, strain into a flute, top up with Prosecco and gently stir. If you’ve got a peach left, of course a slice as garnish tops it all off!

Kir Real

Crème de Cassis is a gorgeous blackcurrant liqueur from Dijon in France and topping it up with a sparkling white gives you the Kir cocktail, created in 19th century France. Using Champagne instead creates the Kir Royale, but we’ve gone for Spanish Cava to create a much better value Kir Real. It requires the same time-consuming method as Champagne, there’s just more of it about! But it’s far closer a Champagne than something like a Prosecco so works great for this. Bubbly bite with juicy fruity sweetness! Fit for a royal indeed.

Ingredients
1 tbsp crème de cassis
Cava
Blackberry (optional garnish) 

Method
Nice and simple. Pour your crème de cassis into a Champagne flute and top up with Cava! A fresh or frozen blackberry or lemon twist makes a great garnish.

Rosé Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz was created in Italy and is now officially Germany’s favourite cocktail. If you want to inject some summery feeling into your festive season, or maybe you’re somewhere sunny for Christmas, then this Rosé version is there for you. The passion fruit juice is ideal for bridging the gap between the subtle bitterness of the Aperol and the fruity wine. The result is a fruitier, more refined Spritz that’s a very drinkable switch up. Who says it's just for summer?

Ingredients
50ml Aperol
75ml rosé
30ml soda
30ml passion fruit juice
Lime wedge (garnish)

 Method
Pop one ice cube in your glass and combine the Aperol with rosé. Top up with soda and juice, stirring gently to avoid breaking up the fizz, and then garnish with a lime wedge! Enjoy!  

The Golden Dram

Scotch cocktails can often be thought to be dark and moody affairs, but this unusual pairing with sparkling wine changes that. Combined with an Angostura-soaked sugar cube, you create a unique and refreshing cocktail that’s probably not quite like anything you’ve tasted before.

Ingredients
Angostura bitters-soaked sugar cube
25ml Scotch
100ml Prosecco

 Method

Drop a single sugar cube into your Champagne flute and soak with a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then add Scotch before topping up to the top with Prosecco! Stir lightly to slowly dissolve the sugar and you’re all set.

Top Tip: If you like your cocktails sweeter, soak the sugar cube in a teaspoon of honey too!

Black Velvet

Legend goes that the Black Velvet was thought up by a London steward as Britain mourned the death of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert in 1861. Whether that’s true or not, it certainly looks the part. Traditionally, it uses Champagne, but we’re using this opportunity to shout out Crémant. It’s a sparkling wine made using the same method as Champagne, and although it was once looked down upon, the current crop of Crémant producers have upped their game and it massively punches above its price point! You can find decent bottles for under £10, and still pull together a delightful Black Velvet that blends the bitter richness of Guinness, with the fizzing lightness of the wine.

Ingredients
100ml Guinness
100ml Crémant

 Method
Super simple apart from a drop of bartending technique. Fill half a Champagne flute with your crémant, and top up the rest with Guinness, pouring over the back of a spoon to achieve beautiful layering.

Rosé Bowler

This is an adaption of the Champagne bowler that dates back to the 1930s, but we’re going all out on the strawberries using rosé instead. The trio of grapes with brandy, dry white, and rosé provide a really interesting foundation for the muddled strawberries, and the good thing about this is, if you’ve picked up some berries that aren’t as sweet as you’d like, the rosé picks up the slack.

Ingredients
3 chopped strawberries
20ml brandy (preferably Cognac)
30ml dry white wine (like Chardonnay)
60ml rosé
Dash of syrup (optional)

 Method
Chop 3 strawberries and muddle them well in a shaker. Add your brandy, white wine and ice and shake well. Pour into your glass (without straining) and top up with Rosé.

Top Tip: We know winter strawberries can be a bit hit and miss, so if it’s still not sweet enough just re-introduce the syrup from the original Champagne recipe!

If you’re in the process of planning your Christmas offerings, then make sure to complete your set up with some Boozy Crackers that look stunning and taste delicious inside (the drinks inside that is, not the cracker itself).

And if you’re looking for the perfect Prosecco to make the above, take a look at our Best Proseccos for Under £15 here!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 103

We’ve got the best case of déjà vu, because for Episode 103 of the Bring a Bottle podcast, we’re joined by cheese & wine sage Jessica Summer again! We further explore the beautiful Graffigna Malbec and Jessica walks us through an example cheese and wine tasting session, featuring some absolute must hear tips. We also try a delightful hazelnut liqueur you’ll want to try and get our sommelier on with some rather challenging pairings!

Our Guest Drinker

If you missed last week, then Jessica owns the Mouse and Grape, a luxury cheese and wine business that not only sells amazing hampers, but also does private tastings, corporate events, and hen parties. Jessica is fully armed with WSET Level 3 and Cheese Academy Level 2, so what she doesn’t know isn’t really worth knowing.

What’s In Our Glass?

We’re still loving the Graffigna Genuine Collection Reserve Malbec, 2020, with its lovely light quality that’s surprising for a Malbec. From the prestigious Uco Valley in Mendoza, the high altitude creates a concentrated wine bursting with flavour. Think ripe blueberry and chocolate-coated raspberries. There’s a comforting oakiness from the aging that lends itself to pairing with grilled dishes, and a subtle chocolatey nose that would be lovely alongside, surprise surprise, some dark chocolate. So, it’s reliably by your side for main and dessert! It’s elegant, easy-drinking food wine that’s unbelievable for the price.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £9 Sainsbury’s

Cheese and Wine Tasting

Jessica is back with more eye-opening cheese and wine wisdom. We try Saint Nectaire French Cow’s Milk Cheese, a delicate and earthy cheese with velvety rind to match the oaked Malbec being sipped. The combination is beautifully savoury and it’s more than the sum of its parts, accentuating the tertiary flavours wonderfully. Listen for more great tips to get the most out of your cheeses – you’ll never eat it in the same way again.

Drinkers Discovery

Wafer biscuits on the nose, the appearance of an oaked Chardonnay…it’s Frangelico – an Italian hazelnut liqueur. It’s pleasantly light, and not too sweet like some Amaretto can suffer from. Serve it over ice and enjoy with some indulgent nutty chocolate like Ferrero Rocher.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 20%
Find here: £15.99

Instant Somelleier

Any rich ragu, roasted lamb, cauliflower cheese or anything like that, then this Graffigna would work super well, being such a distinctly light and fruity Malbec. But what about other pairings?

Let Jess take you through perfect pairings for Christmas Dinner, Fish & Chips, Steak, Blue cheese, fruit cake and more! As a rule of thumb, you need a wine that is as sweet or sweeter than your food!

Mailbag

This week’s question is, ‘How do you let someone know they’ve been given a really expensive wine without saying it?’

Helena as some perfect tips to let someone know they’ve been given something special so if you struggle with this, tune in till the end of the podcast!

The Best Drinks to Enjoy on Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is an exciting time, and if one is just getting going on the Christmas drinks there is a great deal of choice. From light, easy going drinks to ease you into Christmas gently, to drinks with a bit of a hit, to non-alcoholic beverages with lots of flavour, Christmas is a special time and therefore special drinks are needed. One’s normal morning orange juice might need a bit of a spruce up and the coffee might need a little kick. Whatever budget you are on this Christmas there should be something for everyone out there to make the day begin with a bang.

Classic Bucks Fizz/Mimosa

The classic morning drink for Christmas is orange juice with a little fizz in it. There are plenty of options for adding fizz to orange juice, from Cava, prosecco or Crémant to decadent Champagnes and even a little spirit should one need the extra pick me up.

Budget:

Vineyards Bucks Fizz

My first suggestion makes life very easy. One doesn’t even have to mix the drink oneself as it comes premixed and ready to pour. I’m not usually a fan of premixed drinks made from concentrates, but this little offering has managed to get the balance just right. Not too sweet or sharp it slips down nicely and would be a lovely way to start the day.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 4%
Find it here: £2.75

Tesco Cava Brut Non Vintage

If you have the orange juice and need a little something to add to it, I think this is excellent value. Cava has been much maligned in years gone by, and with good reason. The quality was a little lacking and this was represented by the super cheap deals. Cava is still a great deal less expensive than other sparkling wines, and I’d choose it over Prosecco for this drink. Cava has a little more body than Prosecco which will stand up to the acidity of the orange juice and give some wine flavours too. This example isn’t too heavy on the alcohol, but still has the flavour, and would make a great start to Christmas.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find it here: £5.85

Edenvale Sparkling Cuvee

No and low wines have until recently not been very good. Finally one comes along which is not expensive and still has lovely freshness and flavours. Made in Australia from Semillon grapes, it begins its life as a normal wine and then using a centrifuge, they remove the alcohol, but not the flavour. There are flavours of ripe apple, a touch of tropical fruit and a big dollop of lemon which will all mix nicely with orange juice.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 0.05%
Find it here: £4.99

Vinada Crispy Chardonnay

With no alcohol at all this is a very tasty sparkling wine. It is akin to an unoaked Chardonnay with lots of fruity flavours like apples, honeydew melon and citrus. Made as alternative to alcoholic wine, this sparkler is great for mixing with orange juice.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 0%
Find it here: £9.99

Mid Tier

Sipful Blood Orange Mimosa

Continuing on from budget ready-made drinks, for those of us who can’t be bothered to mix our own, is this brilliant offering from Sipful. Made with natural blood orange juice, and organic sparkling wine, it has zingy, zesty flavours which will certainly get go going and ready for the rest of the day.

Size: 4x250ml
ABV: 4.5%
Find it here: £14.45

Veuve Monsigny

Made by the Phillizot family whose top wines can be found in Michelin star restaurants around France, and made from all their own grapes, Veuve Monsigny can be found in Aldi and represents one of the best value Champagnes on the market. With a zesty yet smooth palate, and for drinking by itself best laid down for 6 months, this wine is great with orange juice and makes a very, very good Bucks Fizz. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find it here: £14.99

Blowout

At a blowout budget, there is often little point in mixing the great champagnes of the world with orange juice. Not only will it do the champagne down, but it will also not actually do the drink any good. Most big rich and complex champagnes will fight with, rather than compliment orange juice. For example, there are yeasty flavours in aged vintage Champagnes that will certainly not go with orange juice, but here are a few luxury options that do work.

Troo Pornstar Martini Cocktail

For a premixed drink, I would either buy the Sipful mentioned above or for a more luxurious experience the Troo Pornstar Martini is extremely good. As good as any made from fresh in a bar, this has passion fruit, premium vodka, passoa, freshly squeezed lime juice and their own vanilla infused sugar syrup. It’s a little punchy on the alcohol in the morning, but it will easily take being let down with extra passion fruit for a longer, well balanced Christmas morning drink.

 Size: 500ml
ABV: 19%
Find it here: £25

Mercier Brut

Mercier is a very overlooked Champagne outside of France, where they drink a lot of it and it is very well known. It’s an old Champagne house having been founded in 1858 and uses all three traditional grape varieties for Champagne. It has classic flavours of lemon and some biscuity flavours from its 2-3 years of aging on lees. In my opinion, it’s a champagne that is just as good if not better than many grand marque champagnes for a little less.

 Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find it here: £30.49

Old vintage Champagne doesn’t really suit a Bucks Fizz or Mimosa, however young vintage Champagne can do and this offering from Taittinger goes extremely well with orange juice. With huge amounts of complexity including peaches, lime, honeysuckle and orange blossom, the champagne is young enough not to have all the yeasty, biscuity flavours yet, so balances perfectly with the fruit juice. Definitely, a decadent way to start the festivities.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find it here: £57.95

Once awake and refreshed, it might be time to think about something to eat. There are some drinks that are a meal in themselves, and I can think of nothing better than a Bloody Mary. Head over to my next article to see what I recommend to drink mid-morning!

Words by Colin Hampden-White

The Best Pre-Lunch Christmas Drinks

Once the mimosas have been drunk, breakfast had and Christmas lunch is beginning to be prepared, the chef, and everyone else for that matter, might be wanting a little something to drink before the grand meal gets under way. Personally, I don’t eat much at breakfast, so one of the next drinks can be a great substitute, whether with or without alcohol. One of my favourite drinks of all time is the Bloody Mary. Traditionally made with vodka there are other options out there. If you’re not a tomato juice fan, then a gin and tonic can go down very well pre-lunch too. And there is always the traditional Christmas drink of Sherry. Forget the old days of cream sherries, there are plenty more options of something tasty to sip away at to get your appetite going.

The BEst Spirits for a Bloody Mary cocktail

Glen's Vodka

Glens Vodka is the second best-selling spirit in the UK. And it is made in Scotland! Made by the Loch Lomond Distillery Company, who know how to make great spirits, this is a clean, smooth and easy going vodka created for mixing, and it is great value for money. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find It Here: £13

Dima’s Vodka

We at The Three Drinkers have long been a great supporter of Dima’s Vodka, and in my opinion, it is the best vodka on the market today. It has superb flavour without being flavoured, it has a great texture that feels creamy in the mouth, and it is incredibly smooth. Beyond all this, it comes from Ukraine and is created by Ukrainian Dima, hence the name. Every bottle sold goes to help fund the Ukrainians in their battle against Russia making buying a bottle even more worth it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find It Here: £35

Ardbeg 10 Year Old

For whisky lovers out there, this makes one of the best Bloody Marys I have ever had. Choose a rich thick tomato juice, or even add some passata to the drink, and once the spices are added, with the Ardbeg 10 Year Old, a smoky, earthy, and delicious drink evolves. With the power of the whisky, you can use as little or as much spice and Worcester sauce as you like, and it’ll taste great.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find It Here: UK £42.90 // US $52.99

X Muse Vodka

Pronounced 10th Muse, this vodka is made with heritage varieties of barley in Scotland, which are distilled separately and then carefully blended. Based on the mythical 10th Muse which was supposed to be an amalgam of the other 9 muses, this vodka has huge amounts of flavour and complexity which shine through in a Bloody Mary. This is a vodka which really does push the boat out, but is worth every penny, and definitely worth the splurge on Christmas day. Beyond the tomato juice, this is a vodka to savour and sip.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find It Here: £55.74

The Best Gin for a Gin and Tonic 

Gordon’s Special London Dry Gin

The quintessential British gin. Gordon’s has been the country’s gin of choice for the humble gin and tonic for a very long time. And with good reason. It is a classic London dry gin with plenty of botanical flavour alongside the juniper and the resulting G&T is very, very good. It’s also great value and, if you don’t happen to be drinking, they make a very good 0% version, which, having tasted quite a few decent no alcohol gins, is my favourite.

Gordon’s Special London Dry Gin
Size: UK 700ml // US 1.75L
ABV: 38%
Find It Here: UK £16 // US $21.99

Gordon’s 0% London Dry Gin
Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find It Here: £12

Finger Lime Gin

Made from an unusual fruit, which although is called a ‘lime’, it’s not certain if it actually fits into the citrus family or not, this gin is definitely zesty with oodles of citrus flavours which mixes with tonic superbly well. If you can find some finger limes to garnish, the little green caviar-like cells will bounce up and down the drink with the bubbles creating a very pretty display. A little like a gin and tonic snow globe. Perfect for Christmas.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find It Here: £34.95

Anty Gin

Created by the Cambridge gin distillery, this is a special gin which, although made of ants, wood ants to be precise, tastes great, and adds a little more interest to a simple gin and tonic. A great talking point when guests or family descend on you for Christmas, it may be a convenient distraction from any brewing family feud!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find It Here: £194.99

The Best Sherry for Christmas

Tio Pepe Dry Sherry

This sherry is made from the Palomino grape variety and aged for around five years. It is crisp and zesty, and the perfect drink before a meal that is likely to be of gargantuan proportion. Easy to sip and take your time over, and especially good if you like dry white wines like Sauvignon Blanc.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15%
Find It Here: £9.50

Lustau Oloroso Emperatriz

If sherry means rich and nutty flavours with lots of dried fruit aromas and flavours to boot, then this is a sherry you’ll love. There is lots of complexity and alongside the usual flavours you will find dark chocolate and nougat. The Solara this sherry comes from was founded in 1921 to mark the visit of Eugenia de Montijo to Jerez, who was the last Empress of France.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find It Here: £20.95

Bodegas Tradición 30 Year Old Palo Cortado

Palo Cortado is an unusual sherry. Many cheaper versions are created by the sherry maker, but those that happen naturally are rare. They are created when the “flor”, which is a naturally occurring fungal barrier that lies on top of the sherry in the barrel to prevent the oxygen from getting to the liquid, naturally and for no reason disappears, allowing the sherry beneath to start to oxidize. The best of these naturally occurring barrels are put aside to become Palo Cortado. It’s hugely complex, yet has great delicacy and finesse, this is one of the greatest examples, and would delight any sherry drinker.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20%
Find It Here: £103.05

Having sated oneself between breakfast and the great meal to come, the main event is next. With a huge number of drinks to choose from, I will keep it simple. To find out how to indulge yourself during this gourmet festive event, move on to my next set of drinks here. If you missed the Best Drinks to Enjoy on Christmas Morning, click here.

How to Pair Cheese and Wine: Your Definitive Tasting Guide

Words by Jessica Summer, founder of Mouse & Grape and certified cheese and wine pairing expert.

Tasting cheese and wine is difficult and it takes time to learn how to identify the different flavours and aromas you are experiencing. When you first start, if all you are smelling and tasting is just cheese and wine that is okay, it takes practice! You have to train yourself to recognise flavours, the best way is to try different things and be mindful. Think what am I tasting? Why do I like it? It can also help to associate a specific memory with tasting a specific item of food which will help you remember how the food tastes, such as family holidays or romantic dinners!

When I run my tasting events I always recommend that my guests go with their first option on a flavour or aroma 99% of the time it is the correct one. When you over analyse and second guess yourself is where it goes wrong, trust your instincts! Before we dive into my favourite cheese and wine pairings recommendations I am going to explain the Mouse & Grape tasting system so you can fully experience the joy of pairing cheese and wine together.

I would always recommend starting with your wine first and tasting it on its own, then trying the cheese on its own and lastly, (the best bit!) enjoying them together. The approach to tasting wine and cheese is very similar. In both cases, you need to pay attention to the look, smell and flavours as well as the feel of the cheese.

How do you pair cheese and wine?

To experience the best flavours in your cheese and wine I would recommend avoiding strongly flavoured food and drink such as coffee before you taste as this will affect your ability to taste simple and complex flavours. It is useful to have good palate cleansers to hand. These include water, bread, crackers and apples to use between trying different combinations. Cheese and wine must both be served at the correct temperature to allow them to reach their most delicious potential. Different wines should be served at different temperatures. Typically white, rosé and sparkling wines are served chilled. Reds are typically served lightly chilled or at room temperature. It’s important to remove your cheese from the fridge, and its wrapping, 1-2 hours before serving. If your cheese is still cold when it is served, its flavour will be dulled. 

THE LOOK

Wine: Hold your glass at an angle to identify the colour and the intensity. Is it white (lemon, golden or amber), red (purple, ruby or garnet) or pink (salmon or orange)? Pale, medium, or deep colour? Is it clear or cloudy? For the best results, examine your wine held against a white piece of paper and in bright natural light.

Cheese: Every cheese tells a story through its appearance so take a moment to look closely at the cheese. Examine the colours of both the exterior (the rind) and the interior (the paste). What type of cheese is it? Hard, soft or blue? Are the colours of the paste consistent and even throughout the piece? Look at the texture of the rind - are there any bumps, cracks, patterns or coloured moulds? Does the cheese have holes or salt crystals? Compare the centre of the cheese to the cheese next to the rind: what are the differences, or are they the same? Cheese loves to grow mould, so if your cheese has spent some time in the fridge you may find some surface mould has developed. Simply trim a thin layer off the surface – the cheese beneath will still taste exquisite. On the subject of mould, artisan cheeses can look very different to supermarket cheese: the cheesemakers focus on flavour over appearance. For example the goat’s cheese Rachel is washed regularly in a brine solution as the cheese matures. This gives it a pinky/grey rind with occasional orange and yellow spots which are naturally occurring and safe to eat. 

THE AROMA

Wine: Put your nose a little way into the glass and take a big inhale, the deeper the better! What does the wine smell like? Don’t worry if at first you can’t smell much, you’ll quickly be able to identify more aromas with practice. First identify broad categories (like berries) then try to pinpoint the aroma (blackberries). You may smell: fruits, such as green apples, pears, cherries or blackcurrant; spices such as cinnamon or vanilla; earthy smells like soil, grass, hay; or woody aromas like oak, pine, or cedar. Now swirl the wine in your glass. This will introduce more oxygen to the wine, which will increase the flavour intensity. Can you detect the existing aromas more strongly, or even notice new aromas?

Cheese: There are a few similarities in the way we describe wine and cheese flavours. Both can have aromas that are lactic, earthy, grassy, nutty or floral. Pick up the cheese and bring it to your nose to take a big sniff. Some cheeses like Époisse or Roquefort will be easy to smell! What can you smell? Cheeses can smell animally, yeasty or mouldy. Can you smell grass or flowers? Can you smell a “farmyard” smell? 

THE TEXTURE

Wine: Take a small sip of your wine but don’t swallow it yet! Let it sit on your tongue and warm the wine making it easier to detect. Then gently swish it around your mouth to get the full effect. Ask yourself:

• What is the mouthfeel like (water, semi-skimmed milk or creamy)?

• Is your mouth filled with saliva (telling us the wine is high in acid)?

• Is the wine creating a drying sensation in the mouth thanks to tannins?

Cheese: The texture of cheese plays an important role in the evaluation of it. Take a small crumb of the cheese you are tasting and rub it between two fingers. Notice how easily (or not) it smears. Take a small bite, and let it sit on your tongue for a moment. Notice how firm or soft the cheese feels. As it warms up it will soften a little more. Now slowly and mindfully chew it. Is it soft and pliable? Does it melt in your mouth? Is it a hard cheese that breaks down into small chunks as you chew? Does the cheese coat the inside of your mouth?

THE FLAVOUR

Wine: Take a second sip and employ the “slurp” technique to aerate the wine (sucking air past your front teeth with the wine on your tongue). This will help you notice the flavours more easily. Ask yourself:

• What flavours do you taste? 

• Can you taste the aromas you detected or have they changed?

• Is the wine sweet, tart or bitter?

• Are any elements standing out in a bad way, meaning the wine is unbalanced? (Acidity, tannin or sugar, for example?)

• Swallow the wine and breathe out. Do the flavours change?

• Do they linger or do they disappear quickly? This is known as the “finish”. Great wines have a pleasant finish that lingers and does not vanish quickly.

Cheese: When tasting the cheese for the first time think ‘less is more’ and take a small bite which will be easier for you to move around your mouth. Let it sit in your mouth for 5-10 seconds which is enough time for the cheese to warm up and release more powerful flavours making them easier to detect. The flavours in cheeses change and evolve the longer you keep them in your mouth. You may notice that a cheese might start being very salty but as you continue to chew it becomes sweeter and the diary flavours are more pronounced.

How to taste cheese and wine together

Pairing is the art of bringing two or more ingredients together to create a more delicious outcome. The best way to discover outstanding pairings is through trial and error, and sometimes great pairings can come from the most unlikely of combinations. It is important to remember that taste is subjective. I might love a wine, cheese or pairing but it might not be for you. For this reason, all Mouse & Grape hampers feature exceptional quality cheeses and wines that can be enjoyed on their own too, and I always add other pairing recommendations and recipes for you to try. Part of the fun is to discover your palate and experiment and try different combinations to find your ultimate cheese and wine pairings. That being said, there are cheese and wine combinations that I have put together in the Mouse & Grape hampers and tasting events that people love and I am excited to share some of the most popular ones with you here. 

First, take a sip of wine and work through the Mouse & Grape tasting system above. Then use a palate cleanser and do the same with the cheese. Then take a bite of cheese and hold it in your mouth as you take a sip of wine and chew them together. 

Ask yourself the following questions: 

• What flavours can I taste with them together?

• Is either the wine or the cheese flavour dominant?

• Is this combination more or less enjoyable than the cheese and wine alone?

When you are pairing cheese and wine together, you are either looking for two contrasting flavours which bring out the best in both such as the classic contrasting flavours of sweet and salt, or you are looking for a cheese and wine with similar flavour profile which will complement one another without overpowering creating a harmonious balance bringing out the best in both. One example of the former pairing would be Sauternes and Roquefort. A stunning example of the latter is 2 Year Aged Gouda with a Saint Émilion Grand Cru (the pairing combinations from the Mouse & Grape Old & Bold Christmas Hamper). Both the cheese and wine have big bold flavours which complement one another and don’t overpower. I love how the salt crystals in the cheese bring out the fruitiness in the wine. Another great example is Truffle Brie with Champagne, which can be found in the Mouse & Grape Ultimate Christmas Hamper. The high fat content in the brie coats your mouth in gooey goodness and then the refreshing sharp ultra-fine bubbles of the sparkling wine cleanse the palate and set you up for another bite! The rich creamy, mushroomy flavour of the truffle brie is complemented beautifully by the toasty notes in the champagne - a match made in heaven! 

What are the best cheese and wine pairings?

Following my two pairing rules above, below are a selection of my favourite cheese and wine pairing combinations for you to try:

Sparkling Wines
Champagne: Aged Comté or Colston Bassett Stilton - a combination you can find in the Mouse & Grape Luxury Christmas Hamper
Cava: Manchego or other hard sheep milk cheese like Berkswell or Cora Linn
Prosecco: Burrata, Mozzarella or feta, I particularly like the Blackwood Cheese Graceburn
English Sparkling wine: Creamy soft cheeses like Hampshire cheese co Winslade or Tunworth.

White Wines
Sauvignon Blanc: Ash - coated goats cheeses like Valencay, Norton and Yarrow Brightwell Ash or Sainte Maure De Touraine - a combination from the Mouse & Grape classic Christmas Hamper.
Verdejo: Hard goats cheeses like White lake Dairy Rachel - you can find this delicious combination in the Mouse & Grape Eliza Hamper
Soave: With washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio or Nettlebed Creamery Highmore
Oaked Chardonnay: Eppoisé or  Maida Vale made by Village Maid Cheese

Red Wines
Bordeaux Blend: Keen’s Cheddar - found in the Mouse & Grape Old and Bold Christmas Hamper
Pinot Noir: Saint Nectaire, Tomme De Savoire, truffle pecorino
Rioja: Appenzeller, Gruyere, Aged Comté
Sangiovese: Pecorino Sardo, Gorgonzola Naturale or Beauvale - a British cheese made in a similar style.

Rosé
South of France pale Rosé: Goats cheeses like Perroche, Sinodun Hill or Golden Cross
English Rosé: lactic cow’s milk cheeses like Cornish Yarg or Mrs Kirkhams Lancashire

Sweet wines
Sauternes: Roquefort or Époisses
Moscato d’Asti: Gorgonzola Dolce or Flor Di Langa
Tokaji: Fourme D’Ambert or Cote Hill Blue
Port: Stilton or Durrus

Jessica Summer is the founder of Mouse & Grape and a certified cheese and wine pairing expert. Mouse and Grape is a luxury online cheese and wine business that specialises in perfectly paired cheese and wine hampers, a cheese and wine subscription service, and corporate and private tasting events. Jessica is a cheese and wine writer and was a judge at The British Cheese Awards 2022, a finalist at the World Cheese Awards Young Cheesemonger of the Year Competition 2022, and a wine judge at this year's people’s choice drinks awards.

Using my knowledge, tasting experience and qualifications I select the best quality wines and cheeses to curate the ultimate cheese and wine pairing hampers and tasting events. I have drawn upon my experience in the industry to write this guide and I am excited to share my cheese and wine pairing secrets with you! In my opinion, cheese and wine has to be the most iconic and well suited pairing combination in the food and drinks world. Biting into one's favourite piece of cheese or sipping a beloved wine is already a very pleasurable experience but when you combine these heavenly flavours together you reach optimum indulgence and maximum enjoyment!

If you have any cheese and wine questions, would like to book Jessica for an event or try one of her mouth-watering cheese and wine hampers contact her through the website or on Instagram!