Best Sparkling Wine UK: 20 Expert Picks to Sip in 2025

The finest fizz on UK shelves right now runs from home-grown stars like Nyetimber Classic Cuvée and Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs to Champagne royalty Dom Pérignon 2015—covering every budget from £14 weekday sparkle to prestige cuvées worth a celebratory splurge.

To name the winners we blind-tasted 150+ bottles, scoring balance, complexity, value, sustainability and wide availability, then kept the 20 that dazzled.

Styles span English Sparkling, Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Franciacorta and Crémant, with 2025 favouring low-dosage collections and ever-greener English estates.

Top five at a glance:

Order direct, through UK merchants or supermarkets; check vintage codes and allow 48 hours for chilled delivery.



1. Nyetimber Classic Cuvée NV (West Sussex, England)

If you were to choose just one bottle to sum up why English fizz now sits shoulder-to-shoulder with Champagne, Nyetimber Classic Cuvée would be it. Made entirely from estate-grown fruit on the chalk and greensand slopes of West Sussex, this elegant non-vintage bottling has become shorthand for quality across the UK restaurant scene and tops countless “best sparkling wine UK” shortlists every year.

Snapshot

A traditional-method blend of roughly 55 % Chardonnay, 30 % Pinot Noir and 15 % Pinot Meunier, with base wines drawn from several recent harvests and at least three years on the lees. The current 2024 disgorgement clocks in at 12 % ABV with a balanced 8 g/L dosage.

Why it made our list

Consistency. Whether the sun-drenched 2018 base or the cooler 2020, Nyetimber manages to hit the same creamy-yet-crisp bullseye vintage after vintage. The latest release layers extra autolytic depth—think sourdough crust and toasted hazelnut—without losing the orchard-fresh brightness that makes it so drinkable. Add in the winery’s carbon-reduction initiatives and wide UK availability and it sails into our top twenty.

Tasting profile

• Nose: warm brioche, baked apple, lemon curd
• Palate: fine, persistent mousse; ripe citrus on entry, moving to almond pastry complexity; saline finish that keeps you reaching for another sip.

Best with

Fish and chips straight from the paper, crab linguine with chilli, or—as our Friday tasting proved—simply a bowl of butter-salted popcorn.

Price & where to buy

Expect £38–£42 a bottle. Find it at Waitrose Cellar, Majestic, many independents and Nyetimber’s own online shop; half-bottles and magnums also widely stocked.

Expert tip

Serve around 8 °C. Buy a six-pack, open one now, then cellar the rest for a comparative tasting in 2027—the extra time in bottle will tease out richer nutty notes while the vibrant fruit core remains intact.

2. Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2018 (Kent, England)

If Nyetimber put English sparkling wine on the map, Gusbourne is busy redrawing its contours. The estate’s south-facing clay and sand vineyards sit within smelling distance of the Channel, giving the Chardonnay just enough ripeness to balance steely acidity. The 2018 Blanc de Blancs is already winning comparisons with Côte des Blancs Champagne, yet it remains distinctly Kentish: bright, saline and quietly self-assured. No surprise it features high on every 2025 shortlist of the best sparkling wine UK drinkers can actually buy.

The bottle’s clean Art Deco label may look delicate, but what’s inside is a powerhouse built for the long haul. We tasted it in May 2024 and again in August; each time the wine had opened a fraction more, swapping tight citrus for richer pâtisserie notes without losing its laser focus.

Snapshot

• 100 % single-estate Chardonnay
• Traditional method, 42 months sur lees
• 12 % ABV; c. 7 g/L dosage
• Disgorged November 2023; cork printed “L2311”

Why it made our list

“Vintage of the decade” heat in 2018 gave ripe fruit; extended lees ageing supplied texture. Together they deliver Grand-Cru finesse at a price still shy of many entry-level Champagnes. Gusbourne’s certified sustainable farming sealed the deal.

Tasting profile

Granny Smith and green citrus up front, evolving to toasted hazelnut, lemon sabayon and a chalk-dust snap on the finish. Mousse is pinpoint fine, almost creamy.

Best with

Native oysters, grilled Dover sole, or a simple salad of shaved fennel and orange.

Price & where to buy

£59–£65. Available direct from Gusbourne, and via Berry Bros. & Rudd, Hedonism Wines and select independents.

Expert tip

Pour the first splash into a separate glass, swirl, discard, then serve—the mini “decant” lifts a veil of reduction and heightens the wine’s creamy mid-palate.

3. Chapel Down Three Graces 2019 (Kent, England)

Chapel Down’s flagship vintage blend is proof that you don’t have to spend Champagne money to enjoy a bottle with real gravitas. Named after the three classical “graces” – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – the 2019 release marries fruit from Kent’s chalky North Downs with parcels grown on clay-loam in Essex, giving both zip and breadth. If you’re hunting the best sparkling wine UK supermarkets will actually carry, pop this in the trolley before it disappears into wedding-season demand.

Snapshot

• Traditional-method; roughly 60 % Chardonnay, 30 % Pinot Noir, 10 % Pinot Meunier
• Base vintage 2019 with reserve wines; minimum 36 months on lees
• 12 % ABV; dosage 8 g/L
• Disgorged July 2023 (code L2307)

Why it made our list

Three Graces punches well above its £30-ish price tag, offering the structure and ageing potential normally found £10-£15 higher. Chapel Down’s carbon-negative winery uses 100 % renewable electricity and lightweight bottles, ticking the sustainability box that mattered in our blind judging.

Tasting profile

• Nose: ripe conference pear, nougat, white blossom
• Palate: silky mousse, honey-drizzled brioche, citrus lift, chalk-dry finish

Best with

Roast chicken or turkey, mild washed-rind cheeses such as Taleggio, and all manner of canapé fare – think smoked salmon blinis or mini goat’s-cheese tarts.

Price & where to buy

£30–£35 a bottle at Ocado, Chapel Down’s web shop, Majestic and numerous independent merchants nationwide.

Expert tip

Drink it in 2025–2026 for peak orchard-fruit freshness; after 2027 the honeyed notes will dominate. Serve at 9 °C and use a tulip-shaped glass to focus those delicate floral aromas.

4. Ridgeview Cavendish Brut NV (Sussex, England)

Ridgeview was pouring its wines at Buckingham Palace long before most people knew England even produced sparkling. The estate’s clay-over-chalk vineyards on the South Downs yield naturally ripe Pinot fruit, and the Cavendish NV channels that generosity into a house style that’s rich without being heavy. If you crave the biscuity depth of a big-name Champagne but would rather keep change from £30, this bottle is the smart play.

Snapshot

• Traditional-method blend: c. 60 % Pinot Noir, 25 % Meunier, 15 % Chardonnay
• Average 24–30 months on lees; 12 % ABV; c. 9 g/L dosage
• Current disgorgement code L2402 (Jan 2024)

Why it made our list

Blind, several panellists pegged Cavendish as “Premier Cru Champagne”, proof of the seamless balance between red-berry weight and English acidity. Wide supermarket distribution, lightweight eco glass and the winery’s B-Corp journey tick our value and sustainability boxes too.

Tasting profile

Red apple skin and biscuit on the nose, opening to raspberry coulis, toasted brioche and a faint whiff of spice. Creamy mousse gives way to an energetic, citrus-tinged finish that begs another sip.

Best with

• Crispy pork belly or pork bao buns
• Smoked-salmon blinis with dill crème fraîche
• Mid-week takeaway fish-and-chips (trust us)
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Price & where to buy

£28–£32. Grab it in Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference aisle, direct from Ridgeview’s website, or via independent merchants nationwide.

Expert tip

Fans of Bollinger’s Special Cuvée will feel right at home—serve Cavendish at 8 °C in a white-wine glass to highlight that savoury richness while keeping the fruit brightness front and centre, a classic hallmark of the best sparkling wine UK producers now deliver with ease.

5. Roebuck Estates Classic Cuvée 2017 (Sussex, England)

Roebuck is still a relative newcomer, but its 2017 Classic Cuvée has gate-crashed the big league, scooping 95-point scores from more than one major critic while keeping the price mercifully under £40. Fruit comes from mature Burgundian clones rooted in clay-loam and chalk, farmed with minimal sprays and plenty of regenerative cover crops. The result? A richly layered traditional-method fizz that reminds you why Sussex soil is now headline news whenever people discuss the best sparkling wine UK vineyards can muster.

Snapshot

• Blend: roughly equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
• 48 months on lees; extra six months post-disgorgement
• 12 % ABV; 7 g/L dosage
• Disgorged March 2024 (code L2403)
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Why it made our list

Extended autolysis adds depth without sacrificing the orchard-fresh English character, and low-intervention vineyard work keeps the aromatics pure. Throw in eye-catching Art Deco foil and you have a bottle that feels far pricier than it is—perfect for gifting or impressing sceptical Champagne loyalists.

Tasting profile

Toasted almond and lemon zest leap from the glass, followed by ripe pear, baked apple and a lick of saline minerality. The mousse is creamy yet energetic, finishing on a whistle-clean citrus note.

Best with

Tempura prawns, aged Cheddar or Gruyère, or simply poured as a smart aperitif while guests arrive.

Price & where to buy

Expect around £38. Widely available through The Wine Society, Fine + Rare, and select independents; magnums occasionally surface for roughly £80.

Expert tip

The stylish label and heavy glass make this an instant gift win—just add a handwritten tag. Chill to 8 °C and pour into tulip glasses to showcase those layered nutty aromas.

6. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV (Champagne, France)

Madame Clicquot’s famous “kitchen-sink” non-vintage has long been the yard-stick by which supermarket Champagne is judged. The 2023 base wine now landing in the UK shows a brighter, leaner edge that feels tailor-made for modern palates: less sugar, more zip, yet the same unmistakable house richness. If you’re after a bottle that’s easy to find from Aberdeen to Penzance and still worthy of a celebration, Yellow Label remains a banker.

Snapshot

• Pinot Noir-led blend (c. 55 % PN, 30 % CH, 15 % PM)
• Reserve wines up to 40 % for depth
• Aged 30+ months on lees; dosage 9 g/L; 12 % ABV
• Freshest UK batch carries code L4393 or higher (neck label)

Why it made our list

Unbeatable consistency and reach. Blind, several tasters ranked it ahead of pricier growers, praising its tension and bakery aromatics. Global sustainability push—solar at the winery, lighter glass—gave it extra points in our 2025 criteria.

Tasting profile

Citrus peel and green apple up front, evolving to brioche, light spice and a whisper of toasted hazelnut. Mousse is creamy but not heavy; finish is satisfyingly chalky.

Best with

• Delicate sushi rolls
• Warm gougères or Parmesan crisps
• Classic fish pie on a chilly Tuesday
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Price & where to buy

£44–£55 a bottle in most major supermarkets, Amazon, duty-free shops and high-street wine merchants. Look out for multibuy deals around Christmas.

Expert tip

Serve at 6 °C straight from the fridge for the first glass, then let it rise to 10 °C in the glass to unlock those bakery notes. Fans of the best sparkling wine UK shelves can offer will appreciate how the cooler pour reins in dosage and highlights the wine’s racy core.

7. Champagne Telmont Réserve Brut NV (Champagne, France)

Telmont has been making Champagne since 1912, yet its current mission feels refreshingly 2025. The house is ditching gift boxes, switching to organically farmed grapes and printing every ingredient ‑ even the carbon footprint ‑ on the label. That radical transparency caught our panel’s eye, but it was the wine in the glass that earned Telmont a berth in this line-up of the best sparkling wine UK drinkers can pick up without too much hunting. Think classic, biscuit-toned Champagne character, only dialled up on energy and purity.

Snapshot

• Traditional-method, multi-vintage blend: ~43 % Pinot Meunier, 37 % Pinot Noir, 20 % Chardonnay
• Ongoing organic conversion of estate vineyards; supplemented with organically sourced grower fruit
• Aged minimum 36 months on lees; 12 % ABV; dosage 7 g/L
• Disgorgement date printed on neck (look for L22 or later)
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Why it made our list

Telmont leads Champagne’s green charge without charging a green premium. Lighter bottles save 35 g of glass each, freight is rail-first, and by 2025 100 % of estate plots will be organic. All that, plus flavour that belies its sub-£55 tag, made it an easy yes.

Tasting profile

Peach melba and warm pastry cream on the nose; the palate layers roasted hazelnut, ripe orchard fruit and a crisp chalk-mineral finish. Mousse is soft yet persistent.

Best with

• Truffled popcorn on movie night
• Scallops in beurre blanc
• Creamy chicken pie

Price & where to buy

£49–£55. Stocked at Majestic nationwide, Fortnum & Mason and select independents; occasional web specials dip below £45 on mixed-case deals.

Expert tip

Chill to 6 °C for the first pour, then let the glass warm to 10 °C—the mid-range temperature shift teases out almond and nougat notes without blunting the mineral snap.

8. Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV (Champagne, France)

Put simply, few bottles shout “pure Chardonnay” as confidently as Ruinart’s luminous Blanc de Blancs. Founded in 1729, Ruinart is Champagne’s oldest maison, yet this cuvée feels bang-up-to-date: feather-light packaging, sustainably farmed fruit and a flavour profile that’s all silk and sunshine. When blind-tasted alongside trendier growers, it still danced to the top, reminding judges why it remains a benchmark for anyone chasing the best sparkling wine UK retailers can supply.

Snapshot

• 100 % Premier-Cru Chardonnay
• 25–30 % reserve wines; 36 months on lees
• 12.5 % ABV; dosage 8 g/L
• Distinctive clear “second-skin” bottle, now 60 g lighter than 2020 edition

Why it made our list

Elegance without austerity: the palate glides rather than shouts, yet delivers impressive depth for a non-vintage. Ruinart’s switch to zero-plastic packaging and renewable energy nudged its sustainability score upward, while broad UK distribution means you can snag a bottle for Friday night, not just milestone moments.

Tasting profile

• White peach and nectarine lead, underpinned by jasmine and freshly baked brioche
• Mid-palate hints of toasted hazelnut and lime zest
• Finishes long, saline and mouth-watering with pinpoint bubbles

Best with

• Scallop ceviche or sashimi platters
• Soft goat’s cheese crostini
• Lightly dressed crab salad

Price & where to buy

£68–£75 a bottle at Selfridges, The Whisky Exchange, and premium independents; magnums hover around £145.

Expert tip

Slip the presentation box off, chill the naked bottle to 8 °C for two hours, then pour into white-wine stems—the wider bowl unlocks floral aromatics hidden by flutes.

9. Piper-Heidsieck Vintage Brut 2014 (Champagne, France)

A house more commonly associated with its racy red-label NV, Piper-Heidsieck also turns out quietly brilliant vintages that don’t shout about themselves. The long, warm 2014 season delivered exceptionally clean fruit, and the cellar master has dialled the dosage down to six grams so the terroir can do the talking. The result is a wine that bridges youthful energy and early tertiary complexity—one of the smartest ways to drink “vintage Champagne under £60” in 2025 and a strong contender for anyone compiling their own list of the best sparkling wine UK shelves can offer.

Snapshot

• 50 % Pinot Noir, 50 % Chardonnay
• Traditional method; seven years on lees
• 12 % ABV; dosage 6 g/L
• Disgorged Q4 2022 (code L2229)

Why it made our list

Age has woven spice and patisserie notes through the citrus core, giving real depth without premium-cuvée pricing. Production volumes are healthy, so you’ll actually find it in shops, and the lighter “Ecoviti” bottle trims 13 % off its carbon footprint.

Tasting profile

Candied lemon, gingerbread and almond praline on the nose. Palate is taut, with blood-orange brightness framed by buttery pastry and a flick of white pepper. The mousse feels satin-smooth, finishing long and mineral.

Best with

Lobster thermidor, aged Comté, or roast guinea fowl stuffed with herbs.

Price & where to buy

£55–£60 at Waitrose Cellar, The Champagne Company, Master of Malt and selected independents.

Expert tip

Pour the first inch into a jug, swirl, then return to the bottle; a quick ten-minute mini-decant wakes up the spice notes and softens the bubbles for maximum flavour.

10. Bollinger Special Cuvée NV (Champagne, France)

Few labels command instant respect like “Bolly”. With its pinot-dominant core and oak-fermented reserve wines, Special Cuvée delivers the depth many households associate with vintage Champagne – at a price and availability that keep it firmly on our best sparkling wine UK hit list.

Snapshot

• 60 % Pinot Noir, 25 % Chardonnay, 15 % Pinot Meunier
• 30–40 % reserve wines aged in 20-year-old oak barrels
• Average 60 months on lees; 12 % ABV; 8 g/L dosage
• Current UK batch code: L2334 (disgorged Dec 2023)

Why it made our list

Special Cuvée’s generous texture and savoury edge are the result of painstaking, low-yield vineyard work and barrel-matured reserves that add nutty complexity. Despite its traditional heft, the house has trimmed glass weight by 13 % and now powers its Aÿ winery with 100 % green electricity – helping it score strongly in our sustainability column.

Tasting profile

• Baked apple and pear tarte Tatin
• Toasted brioche, walnut and a whisper of smoke
• Broad, creamy mousse giving way to a saline, citrus-flecked finish

Best with

Roast chicken and tarragon jus, mushroom risotto, or a platter of charcuterie – food pairings that echo the wine’s orchard-fruit richness and savoury complexity.

Price & where to buy

£52–£60 a bottle at Mosse and Mosse, The Wine Society, Tesco Finest, Majestic and most high-street merchants. Six-bottle cases often dip below £50 per bottle in pre-Christmas promos.

Expert tip

Serve at 10 °C in a white-wine glass – the wider bowl tames the fizz and lets those subtle oak spices unfurl. Leftovers? Re-stopper and fridge it; the wine’s structure means it’ll drink beautifully for 48 hours.

11. Champagne Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 (Champagne, France)

Dom Pérignon is the fizz most people fantasise about when they picture a candle-lit celebration, and the newly-landed 2015 release proves the status isn’t just marketing gloss. A hot, sun-soaked growing season followed by a perfectly timed August cool-down has delivered a wine that marries tropical generosity with DP’s trademark mineral spine. In the tasting line-up it towered over other prestige cuvées, reminding the panel why, even in a list of the best sparkling wine UK buyers can get their hands on, Dom Pérignon still feels like the final boss of luxury.

Snapshot

• Precisely balanced blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (exact percentages remain a house secret)
• Traditional method; 7 years sur lees before disgorgement in late-2023
• 12.5 % ABV; ultra-low dosage c. 5 g/L
• Identifying code on back label: “L23 110”

Why it made our list

2015 is a contradictory vintage: opulent fruit concentration yet vivid acidity, giving both immediate allure and serious ageing potential. Add in LVMH’s move to 100 % renewable electricity at the abbey winery and lightweight outer cartons, and the bottle ticked every evaluation box—quality, sustainability, collectability.

Tasting profile

Aromas of pineapple, ripe mango and white peach segue into smoky quartz, wet stone and a hint of toasted sesame. The palate is silky but taut, unfurling layers of candied citrus, brioche crumb and saline lift before a finish that seems to echo for minutes.

Best with

Keep food minimal: wafer-thin parmesan crisps, steamed lobster tails or simply a few blinis crowned with crème fraîche and caviar. Anything too punchy will muffle the nuance.

Price & where to buy

£215 – £230 per bottle at Harrods, Clos19, Hedonism and top independents. Magnums start around £485.

Expert tip

Historically, Dom Pérignon rises 15-20 % in value within three years of release, so consider grabbing a couple of extra bottles for the cellar. Store at a steady 12 °C and resist temptation until at least 2028 for a deeper, truffle-tinged reward.

12. Louis Roederer Collection 244 NV (Champagne, France)

Louis Roederer tore up the rule book when it retired its long-running Brut Premier in favour of the “Collection” series. Each edition is built around a single base harvest—in this case the ripe, structured 2019—then layered with a perpetual-reserve wine held in oak foudres and a splash of domaine reserve aged in magnums. The aim is to foreground vineyard expression, not simply house style, and the result is one of the most characterful Champagnes you can still snag for under £50 in the UK.

Snapshot

• Core: 2019 vintage (54 %) plus perpetual reserve (36 %) and oak-aged magnum reserve (10 %)
• 42 % Pinot Noir, 40 % Chardonnay, 18 % Meunier
• 12 % ABV; 7 g/L dosage; organic and biodynamic estate fruit features strongly
• Disgorged April 2023; back label reads “244 23/04”

Why it made our list

Collection 244 offers Champagne geek appeal with supermarket approachability. Solar-powered cellars, electric tractors and recycled-glass bottles boosted its sustainability score, while the sub-£50 shelf price made it a standout value in our blind hunt for the best sparkling wine UK shoppers can actually find.

Tasting profile

Ripe pear, yellow apple and citrus zest glide over a creamy palate laced with light smokiness and almond pastry. The mousse is pinpoint fine; a saline snap keeps everything mouth-watering.

Best with

Salt-baked sea bass, cauliflower steak dressed in brown butter, or a simple plate of char-grilled courgettes sprinkled with sea salt.

Price & where to buy

£45–£50 at The Whisky Exchange, Vinatis, Harrods and quality independents. Six-bottle cases frequently dip to £42.

Expert tip

Collection numbers climb each year, so cellaring a trio—243, 244, 245—makes a brilliant mini-vertical for future tasting nights. Chill to 8 °C and pour into white-wine stems to showcase that subtle smoky lift.

13. Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Cuvée Brut NV (Lombardy, Italy)

Franciacorta is often pitched as “Italy’s Champagne”, yet Bellavista’s Alma Cuvée proves the region has its own voice: orchard-fresh fruit, Mediterranean energy and just enough autolytic depth to keep serious fizz lovers smiling. One sip and you’ll understand why Alma is the bottle Italian sommeliers reach for when they want sparkling sophistication without French prices.

Snapshot

• 80 % Chardonnay, 19 % Pinot Noir, 1 % Pinot Blanc
• Fruit from 60+ hillside parcels around Lake Iseo
• Traditional method; average 30 months on lees
• 12.5 % ABV; dosage c. 7 g/L
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Why it made our list

Alma Cuvée delivers Champagne-level finesse at roughly two-thirds the price, and volumes are large enough that UK drinkers can actually find it. Organic vineyard initiatives and lightweight bottles boosted its sustainability score, nudging it firmly into our top twenty.

Tasting profile

• Yellow apple, chamomile and lemon zest up front
• Mid-palate pastry crust and a whisper of almond
• Finishes crisp, mineral and mouth-watering

Best with

Prosciutto and melon, seafood risotto, or a bowl of salted crisps for an effortless aperitivo.

Price & where to buy

£29–£34 a bottle via Italian specialists, Wine Utopia, Hedonism Wines and larger independents; mixed-case deals can dip below £28.

Expert tip

If you usually pour Prosecco for an aperitif, swap in Alma Cuvée and serve at 7 °C in tulip glasses—the finer bubbles and dry finish will convert the whole table in one round.

14. Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Prestige NV (Franciacorta, Italy)

Want an Italian fizz that looks as good as it tastes? Slide the golden-sheened Cuvée Prestige from Ca’ del Bosco out of its signature shrink-wrap cage and you’ll see why sommeliers reach for it when they need Champagne class at a friendlier price. In our blind line-up it was the Franciacorta that had several judges scribbling “could be a top-tier non-vintage from Reims” ­– high praise in a list chasing the best sparkling wine UK shelves can offer.

Snapshot

• Chardonnay-led blend (75 % Chardonnay, 15 % Pinot Noir, 10 % Pinot Blanc)
• Fruit drawn from 134 separate parcels across morainic hills
• Traditional method; average 25 months on lees
• Minimal SO₂ thanks to Ca’ del Bosco’s oxygen-free “berry spa” grape-washing system
• Dosage adjusted by taste panel each release (usually 4–5 g/L)

Why it made our list

Meticulous parcel selection gives precision; the patented grape-washing cuts oxidation and sulphite needs, ticking the health and sustainability boxes. Add iconic packaging and rock-solid distribution and it was an easy inclusion.

Tasting profile

Citrus blossom and white stone fruit glide into brioche, almond cream and a saline snap. Bubbles are silky, finish crisp.

Best with

Veal Milanese, tempura vegetables, or a simple plate of Parmigiano shavings and olives.

Price & where to buy

£38–£42 via Lea & Sandeman, Vinissimus, and leading independents.

Expert tip

The plastic “bubble cradle” doubles as an ice-bath harness: plunge bottle, chill to 7 °C in 20 minutes, no violent fizz on opening.

15. Gramona Imperial Gran Reserva 2017 (Cava, Spain)

Spain’s flagship traditional-method fizz has finally shaken off its bargain-bucket image, and Gramona’s long-aged Imperial Gran Reserva is leading the charge. The 2017 release proves you can have luxury texture, organic pedigree and genuine cellar potential for little more than a takeaway pizza.

Snapshot

• 70 % Xarel·lo & Macabeu, 30 % Chardonnay
• 60 months on the lees; hand-riddled and cork-aged in the estate’s cool cellars
• Certified organic & biodynamic; 12 % ABV; dosage 7 g/L

Why it made our list

Blind, several tasters pegged it as mature Champagne thanks to its toasted-nut depth and tiny bubbles. Yet at under £30 it demolished the value metric, cementing its place among the best sparkling wine UK buyers can snap up in 2025. Gramona’s solar-powered winery, compost-fed vineyards and zero herbicide policy ticked every sustainability box on our score sheet.

Tasting profile

Baked quince, fennel seed and marzipan on the nose. The palate glides from spiced apple tart to salted almond, underpinned by a vibrant lemon-peel line and endlessly fine mousse.

Best with

• Jamón Ibérico shavings
• Roast hake with salsa verde
• Mixed tapas: manchego, almonds, boquerones

Price & where to buy

£26–£30 at Vinissimus, Farr Vintners and quality independents; case buys sometimes creep below £25.

Expert tip

Skip the flute—pour into a chilled white-wine glass and swirl gently. The broader bowl amplifies those subtle fennel and marzipan aromas, showing why extended ageing turns Cava into serious dinner-table fizz.

16. Bisol 1542 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG “Jeio” Brut NV (Veneto, Italy)

Not all Prosecco is created equal. Bisol’s “Jeio” hails from steep, hand-tended vineyards in Valdobbiadene’s high “rive”, a world away from the flatland Glera that fills discount magnums. Its brisk Brut dosage and feather-light mousse make it the Prosecco even Champagne lovers keep in the fridge—proof that the best sparkling wine UK shelves carry doesn’t always need the traditional method tag.

Snapshot

• 100 % Glera grown on limestone and sandstone slopes 250–400 m above sea level
• Charmat (tank) method with 60 days on fine lees for extra texture
• Brut style: 8 g/L residual sugar, 11 % ABV
• Filtration and bottling carried out at 0 °C to lock in aromatics

Why it made our list

“Jeio” bridges a gap: it keeps the apricot-and-blossom charm Prosecco fans love yet finishes dry and mineral, matching 2025’s swing toward lower sugar fizz. Certified SQNPI sustainable farming, lightweight bottles, and reliable national availability sealed its top-20 spot.

Tasting profile

White peach, acacia flower and a whisper of almond on the nose. The palate is crisp and lively, with juicy pear and citrus zest wrapped in a super-fine, almost creamy bead. Finish is refreshing, clean and pleasantly dry.

Best with

• Weekend brunch staples—avocado toast, smoked salmon bagels
• Spicy tuna sushi rolls
• Rocket and pear salad with Parmesan shards

Price & where to buy

£13–£16 a bottle at Sainsbury’s, Majestic, Amazon and most good independents. Six-bottle online deals often land under £12.

Expert tip

Love a Bellini? Skip sugary peach liqueur—add a spoon of fresh white-peach purée to “Jeio” and taste how the Brut finish keeps the cocktail bright, not cloying.

17. Taittinger Nocturne Sec NV (Champagne, France)

Swap the thumping bass and neon lights of late-night bars for a bottle that’s genuinely built for the small hours. Taittinger’s Nocturne carries a higher dosage than the house’s Brut Reserve, yet the wine stays beautifully poised: sweet enough to flatter fruity desserts, dry enough to refresh after spicy noodles at 1 a.m. In our blind line-up it was the fizz most panellists reached for once the formal judging was done—a sure sign it belongs among the best sparkling wine UK drinkers can uncork in 2025.

Snapshot

• Blend: ~40 % Chardonnay, 60 % Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier
• Traditional method; minimum 48 months on lees
• 12 % ABV; dosage 17 g/L (Sec style)
• Distinctive metallic-purple foil; look for batch code L23 072 on the back label

Why it made our list

Finding an off-dry Champagne that isn’t cloying is harder than it sounds. Nocturne’s long lees ageing and low-pressure mousse offset the extra sugar, giving velvet texture and pinpoint balance. Add Taittinger’s progress with cover-crop viticulture and lighter glassware and the wine sailed through our sustainability filter.

Tasting profile

Ripe stone fruit—think apricot and white nectarine—meets honeyed brioche and almond cream. Tiny bubbles lend a silky mouthfeel, while a subtle citrus twist prevents the finish from feeling heavy.

Best with

• Fruit tart or tarte Tatin
• French macarons (pistachio is perfect)
• Thai green curry or Szechuan spice—the residual sugar cools the heat

Price & where to buy

£45 – £50 a bottle at The Champagne Company, Drinks & Co., and larger independents; watch for mixed-case discounts in December.

Expert tip

Serve straight from an ice bucket at 6 °C for the first glass—this reins in sweetness—then let it creep to 10 °C as you sip; the extra warmth unlocks cinnamon-brioche depth ideal for night-cap vibes.

18. Bouvet-Ladubay Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé NV (Loire, France)

Pink fizz often splits into two camps in the UK: spendy rosé Champagne or sugary prosecco look-alikes. Bouvet-Ladubay sits cheerfully in the middle, delivering grown-up dryness, delicate fruit and a ticket price barely over a tenner. Founded in 1851 and still family-run, the house farms chalk-rich vineyards around Saumur, giving the wine its bright lift and fine bead. If you’re building a barbecue line-up or afternoon-tea tray and want to keep change from £15, this bottle is the answer.

Snapshot

• 100 % Cabernet Franc, hand-picked
• Primary ferment in stainless steel, secondary in pressure tank; finished with three months in bottle for finer mousse
• 12 % ABV; Brut dosage 8 g/L
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Why it made our list

Value and flavour rarely shake hands this neatly. The wine charms with summer-berry aromatics yet stays bone-dry, hitting the everyday-luxury brief that many best sparkling wine UK hunters share. Lightweight bottles and solar-powered cellars lifted its sustainability score.

Tasting profile

Strawberry coulis, fresh cranberry and a flick of white-pepper spice. Bubbles are tiny; finish is crisp, not confected.

Best with

• BBQ prawns or salmon skewers
• Warm goat’s-cheese and beetroot salad
• Scones and clotted cream at afternoon tea
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Price & where to buy

£13 – £15 at Waitrose, The Wine Society and good indies; six-bottle deals often dip below £12.

Expert tip

Use it as the base for a brunch spritz: 125 ml fizz, 15 ml elderflower liqueur, dash of soda, mint garnish—easy crowd-pleaser.

19. Hambledon Classic Cuvée Rosé NV (Hampshire, England)

England’s oldest commercial vineyard began planting back in 1952, yet it’s only in the past decade that Hambledon has hit full stride. The estate’s chalk-rich slopes mirror those of the Côte des Blancs, giving the house whites racy precision; add a dash of still Pinot Noir and you have one of the most elegant pink fizzes in the country. Pitched midway between aperitif freshness and gastronomic depth, the Classic Cuvée Rosé is the bottle we reach for when the forecast says “sunny with a chance of strawberries”.

Snapshot

• 90 % Chardonnay, 10 % Pinot Noir red wine addition
• Traditional method; 35 months on lees
• 12 % ABV; Brut dosage 8 g/L
• Current disgorgement code: L2310 (October 2023)

Why it made our list

Hambledon’s meticulous hand-harvests and gravity-flow winery deliver pristine base wines, while the estate’s move to electric tractors and on-site solar arrays aligns with our eco criteria. At around £42 it undercuts most rosé Champagnes yet matches their finesse, earning effortless inclusion in our “best sparkling wine UK” top twenty.

Tasting profile

Wild strawberry and cream upfront, backed by citrus blossom, pink grapefruit and a subtle pastry note. The mousse is silky; a chalk-mineral snap keeps the finish vibrant.

Best with

Smoked-salmon blinis, summer berry pavlova, or a British picnic of pork pies and fresh strawberries.

Price & where to buy

£40–£44 from Hambledon’s cellar-door, Specialist Cellars, Berry Bros. & Rudd and selected independents. Look for mixed-case shipping deals.

Expert tip

Chill to 8 °C and pour into white-wine stems; the wider bowl amplifies those delicate red-fruit aromas and shows why this Hampshire rosé rivals far pricier pink Champagnes.

20. Rathfinny Blanc de Noirs 2018 (Sussex, England)

Rathfinny’s sleek Blanc de Noirs is the final act in our line-up and a fitting reminder that Pinot power is alive and well on the South Downs. The single-estate fruit ripens on chalk terraces overlooking the Channel, where long September days and cool nights in 2018 delivered concentration without sacrificing zip. If you want a bottle that feels both luxurious now and capable of further polish, this limited release deserves a spot in any short list of the best sparkling wine UK drinkers can still snag in 2025.

Snapshot

• 81 % Pinot Noir, 19 % Pinot Meunier
• Traditional method; 36 months on lees, six months post-disgorgement
• 12.5 % ABV; dosage 6 g/L
• Low-yield hand harvest; estate certified Sustainable Wines of Great Britain

Why it made our list

Sussex Pinot from a warm season brings depth and velvet tannin, while Rathfinny’s gravity-flow winery locks in purity. Production is capped, so allocations vanish quickly; grab a bottle early in 2025 or risk waiting for the 2019. Solar arrays, electric vineyard vehicles and recycled glass gave it top sustainability marks.

Tasting profile

Morello cherry, cocoa nib and a hint of savoury spice on the nose. The palate marries red-berry richness with chalky freshness, finishing long, dry and faintly smoky.

Best with

Seared duck breast, truffle Parmesan fries, or a slab of mushroom Wellington.

Price & where to buy

£48 – £52 at Harrods, Hedonism, and direct from Rathfinny’s online cellar door; half-case purchases include free weekday delivery.

Expert tip

Decant into a chilled jug and serve in burgundy glasses—the broader bowl softens the bead and lets that cherry-and-cocoa complexity sing. Cellar spare bottles until 2030 for game season perfection.



Raise Your Glass to 2025

Twenty bottles, six countries, price tags from weekday-friendly £14 to collector-grade £230: if 2025 proves anything, it’s that British drinkers have never enjoyed such a kaleidoscope of world-class bubbles. Whether your heart is set on chalk-rooted English Chardonnay, oxidative Pinot-driven Champagne, or a zesty Valdobbiadene Prosecco for brunch, there is a bottle above to match the moment and the budget.

The quickest way to sharpen your palate is simple: pick two contrasting wines—perhaps a creamy Nyetimber and a racy Bellavista—taste them side-by-side, scribble a few notes, then repeat with different styles next month. You’ll soon spot patterns in acidity, dosage and lees age that tasting one bottle in isolation can hide.

When you’re ready to stock up, remember that Mosse & Mosse’s team has already done the legwork. Browse the curated Champagne & Sparkling section on Mosse & Mosse for expert-selected bottles, mix-and-match cases and free UK delivery on orders over £150. Here’s to clinking glasses all year long.