Where/what are the best champagne deals at the moment?

Mup_2

Hi
For our wedding in a hall we've hired, we want to give our guests a champagne reception while we're off with the photographer having our wedding pics taken.

Obviously, keeping costs down is my main objective but still want the champagne to be v enjoyable - a challenge!

Can you recommend a champagne that is good value and does anyone know any good deals on champagne at the moment?

Final question, how much champagne would you 'allow' each guest when working out number of bottles needed eg would 750ml serves 3 or 6 people?!

Thanks in advance,
Mup.

jobbingmusician

I don't really know the answer to this, but I'll share what little my brain cells are capable of as no-one else has answered.

I've seen champagne at around £8-9 a bottle this week somewhere. Can't remember where, but it may have been Netto. It wasn't Aldi or Lidl (but I haven't checked those). Anyway, you could start by checking the big supermarket websites. Someone usually has it for £10, but you might get it cheaper than that (I did notice some pink champers - yum! - on Tescos this week for around £15)

How much you have to allow per person depends on what you actually mean by a champagne reception. You could have an awful lot of fun by serving something cheaper (Cava, which is normally available for £4 or even £3 a bottle) with a raspberry in the bottom of the glass, and just have proper champers for the toast, in which case you will get at least 5 servings out of your champers bottle. Or you could serve kir royale or bucks fizz, both made with Cava. This isn't being a total cheapskate - about 2 weeks before our wedding, back in June 2004, there was a radio 4 programme about how Cava is much better value for money - you get a much better wine for your money apparently! In my experience (and I have some rich friends) people can't generally tell unless they have VERY educated palates! If you haven't encountered Cava before, now's your excuse to try some..... :rotfl:

And of course you could pop over to France for the day and bring a pile of champers back with you.... :beer:

Hmmm, having read your post again, I see you just want it for the photos. But these always take longer than you expect.....how about an initial glass of the French stuff, followed by Cava cocktails of some sort???

Mup_2

Hi Jobbingmusician
Lots of good pointers there - we haven't got a netto nearby but have plenty of other shops to check out some Cava as a reception drink (wouldn't mind 'wasting' it in a Bucks Fizz or as much as 'real' champers! I think I might be a bit of a drink snob as turned my nose up to Cava usually but tried some at xmas and it was lovely (as good as the M&S own label champagne we tried on offer ...)

Like the sound of pink champagne, too. Plus saving the 'real' stuff for the toast.
Thanks again for taking the time,
Mup.

pandaonmyshoulder

Not sure if it's the cheapest but it's really nice... Tesco own label, the all gold label not the green. The gold label is cheaper but lovely. Think it's about £12 per bottle. Check on here for any vouchers for money off and of course if you've got a clubcard get points too.

aylesby

Consider going to France and buy at a sizeable discount.
You can view the prices on line I think at Odbin and Sainsbury
Sometimes you can get your ferry paid as part of the order
I agree with the suggestions of alternates to the cheaper champagnes.

Bossyboots

I was going to recommend the Tesco own label champagne as well. I have tried a few different ones over the years and that really is one of the best, I would say actually better than some of the more expensive well known ones.

Becles

In Sainsburys:

Pol Remy Brut Sparkling - was £4.99 now £2.99
Etienne Dupont Champagne - was £19.99 now £9.99
Antoine Clevecy Champagne - was £21.99 now £10.99

Not tried any of the above, but you could always get a test bottle first! It's old Christmas stock, so might not be available in your local store or might sell out soon.

Instead of champagne, what about normal sparkling wine? Sainsburys also had:

Banrock Station Reserve Sparkling - was £9.99 now £4.99

Not tried that either, but have had a Jacobs Creek Sparkling Chardonnay before and it was really nice.

jobbingmusician

Oooooooo another thought....

In the days before France ruled that nothing except wine from the region could be called Champagne, I made myself really ill :eek: enjoying Spanish pink champagne. Abolsutely sleedishious, and cost peanuts! How about a cheap cruise to Bilbao to pick some up???

rockpeblar

Picked up three bottles of Lanson Black Label champagne for £16.25ea yesterday in Majestic Wine warehouse. Tesco's price was more than £20. Very nice drop of champagne!!

Suzi.Q_3

The Tesco Premier Cru Non Vintage (I think this is the one with the gold label) is really good and has won Which magazine tests, beating Moet and the like. We really like it and it's the one we always go for for pecial occasions. It's £14.99 a bottle normally, but I think they do discounts for cases. A standard glass is 125ml, so you'll get 6 out of a bottle. 1-2 glasses per head should be fine!

Spendless

No idea how much it's cost but for our wedding we were given a bottle of champagne that had been bought from the vinyards-very romantic