Aldi’s £14 Champagne becomes UK's bestselling bubbles after Moët & Chandon
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Aldi's own label champagne has been declared a favourite fizz with Brits, coming second only to Moët & Chandon in sales as Christmas shoppers look for quality bubbles without the spendy price tag.
With Christmas just around the corner, many will be looking to pick up some festive fizz to toast the big day but new research has revealed you might not have to fork out a fortune to get a taste of luxury.
The supermarket's own-label champagne, Veuve Monsigny, is just £13.99 a bottle, but has taken over other more high-end bottles, including Lanson, according to figures from the data firm IRI.
Veuve Monsigny is produced for Aldi by French producer Philizot & Fils. The company, based in Champagne’s Marne valley and run by husband-and-wife duo Stéphane and Virginie Philizot, has had to expand very to keep up with the explosion of demand.
Since beginning working with Aldi, Philizot & Fils has had to double its production capabilities to meet the UK’s insatiable demand for its award-winning Champagne.
Buy: Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut | £13.99 from Aldi
According to Aldi there is no other own-label Champagne that is aged for as long as Veuve Monsigny in the UK.
In fact, it’s matured for 48 months, two and a half years longer than the minimum requirement for Champagne, and more than 12 months longer than any other UK supermarket own brand Champagne.
And it certainly seems to be worth the buzz. Veuve Monsigny has won a number of accolades over the years, including a bronze award at the International Wine Challenge, where it was described as having a “floral palate, fresh with little development but beautiful balance and restraint”.
The tipple was also served at a, now closed, pop-up champagne bar in London earlier this month, for just £2.83 a glass.
The Veuve Champagne bar, which refers not to the famous Clicquot, but to Aldi's Veuve Monsigny, was created by the supermarket chain to prove that luxury bubbles don't have to come with a hefty price tag.
Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: “It might have shocked people to discover Aldi was behind such a great tasting glass of bubbly, but their enjoyment was no surprise to us.
“We are extremely proud of our award-winning Veuve Monsigny Champagne — it’s up there with the best bubbles available, and we hope our Champagne and pop-up bar helped spread some well-deserved cheer among the public this festive season.”
Read more: Boxing Day sales 2021: Best early UK deals including John Lewis and Boden
And Aldi isn't the only supermarket chain being recognised for their own brand Champagnes.
In its annual champagne taste test, the consumer group Which? ranked offerings from Waitrose, Tesco and Marks & Spencer above the likes of Moët and Lanson – and Aldi.
The top spots were dominated by supermarket offerings, with Waitrose’s “lip-smacking” Blanc de Noirs Brut (£23.99) coming first with 82%.
Lisa Barber, the group’s home products and services editor, said the results showed supermarket champagne brands could certainly compete with the more pricey brands.
“No matter what your budget is, you can be sure that your celebrations will fizz with top-quality champagne," she said.
“Our taste tests have proven that supermarket champagne brands can more than hold their own against the famous champagne houses, delivering excellent quality and great value for money.”
This time around the judges singled out Lidl’s Veuve Delattre Brut as the “great value pick”. At just £12 a bottle, they praised its “subtle, complex aromas, fresh acidity and clean, fruity taste”.
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