Best Champagne 2026: 10 expert-rated bottles starting at £13.99, from Moet to Morrisons

Score: 83/100

‘Tis the season to celebrate, and what better bottle to pop than our top-rated Champagne? Crisp, dry and beautifully balanced, these bubbles are bursting with pear and apricot, alongside hints of honey and biscuity richness. A great all-rounder, with one tester describing it as ‘a very lovely Champagne’. We concur.

Score: 82/100

Morrisons takes the crown for the best supermarket Champagne this year, with its impressive vintage fizz. It has notes of lemon curd and brioche, with a smooth finish that makes it very easy to go back for another glass.

Keep your eyes peeled for Morrisons’ ‘Buy 6 Save 25%’ offer, too – which would bring the price down to just £22.50 a bottle. Cheers to that!

Score: 79/100

A classic blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, our testers enjoyed the distinctive minerality in this crowd-pleasing fizz. Light, fresh and citrussy, there’s plenty of grapefruit and lemon in each sip, making it a top choice for seafood.

Score: 78/100

Moët & Chandon is a master at creating a consistently good cuvée. It’s not hugely complex but it’s a reliable sparkler, with juicy lemon, peach and a whiff of summer flowers. It's also available on Amazon Prime for last-minute Champagne-related emergencies. We’ve all been there.

Score: 78/100

Lanson has been the official Champagne of Wimbledon since 1977 and is all about bright, light, refreshing citrus with notes of freshly baked bread. It’s incredibly easy drinking, and an excellent accompaniment to party food.

Score: 78/100

A complex blend of 30 wines from at least two vintages and three classic grape varieties, there’s a reason so many Champagne aficionados swear by Pol Roger Brut Reserve.

Expect aromas of citrus and apple, followed by ripe stone fruit and toasted brioche. Long, lingering bubbles and a creamy texture make this a Champagne to return to time and time again.

Score: 77/100

Part of the Bollinger family (a house known for rich, oak‑aged wines), Ayala specialises in chardonnay‑led Champagne that offers a dry, crisp alternative. Our testers loved its light, floral character and juicy lemon acidity. A refined bottle to return to throughout the party season.

Score: 77/100

Taittinger’s traditional Champagne is a wine with real elegance. You can expect notes of almonds, honeyed apricot, and lemon, with excellent minerality from the high chardonnay content and robust bubbles. Indulgent, yet easy drinking, it’s perfect for every special occasion.

Score: 77/100

Made with grapes sourced from some of Champagne's prestigious Premier Cru villages, this fizz balances juicy apple, pear and honeysuckle with a hint of buttered toast. Dry and creamy, with plenty of complexity, testers found it seriously moreish, with one saying they 'just want to keep tasting'.

Score: 75/100

Aldi consistently delivers excellent wine at incredible prices. This bottle performed well with our panel, and displays notes of crisp green apple, bright lemon and a touch of blossom. You may want to stock up, as we can see this disappearing all too quickly...

• Pommery Brut Royal Champagne, £46 for 75cl; Score: 75/100
• Exceptional by ASDA Champagne Benoît Renaud Blanc de Noirs Brut, £21 for75cl; Score: 75/100
• Best value: Lidl Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut, £13.99 for 75cl; Score: 74/100
• Waitrose No.1 Brut Special Reserve Vintage Champagne, £39 for 75cl; Score: 73/100
• M&S Delacourt Grand Cru Champagne, £40 for 75cl; Score: 73/100
• Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV, £50 for 75cl; Score: 72/100

The world of Champagne can be confusing, with a minefield of descriptions and terminology – so here’s a quick summary.

Champagne – a French sparkling wine, from the Champagne region of France.

Non vintage (NV) vs vintage (V) champagne — Non vintage Champagne is most common and means that the Champagne consists of a blend of wines made from grapes harvested in various years. Best consumed within three to five years of bottling, the idea is to create a consistent 'house style' that tastes the same, year on year.

Vintage Champagne, however, is only made in years where the Champagne house feels the wine will be unique and exceptional. These Champagnes can be aged for 10+ years after bottling, with some of the finest examples ageing for decades.

Blanc de blancs vs blanc de noirs — Champagne can only be produced from three grape varieties: chardonnay (a white grape), pinot noir (a black grape) and pinot meunier (also a black grape).

Blanc de blancs means the Champagne has been made purely from chardonnay, while blanc de noirs refers to styles created with either pinot noir or pinot meunier grapes (or both).

Generally, blanc de blancs Champagne tends to be lighter, floral and citrus-filled in style, while blanc de noirs are richer and more full-bodied (you may find you pick up delicate red fruit characteristics).

Rosé Champagne — Made using a blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay, rosé Champagne can range in colour from pale blush to salmon pink. You should expect fresh summer fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and cherries, effervescent bubbles and sometimes a touch of brioche.

The best Champagnes pair perfectly with seafood canapés or smoked salmon starters. It also makes an excellent accompaniment to light and creamy poultry-based dishes.

Champagne is best served between 8-10ºC in a Champagne flute, as the shape helps accentuate the aromas and bubbles. To enjoy your fizz over a few days, invest in a Champagne bottle stopper to retain the bubbles.