Once this is done, grip the neck of the bottle in one hand with your thumb over the top of the caged cork. These champagne glasses are lightweight and come in a gift box making it a thoughtful wedding or house-warming gift. Rooted in French history and created using the méthode champenoise, it is a traditional blend of three grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.

Watch out though – sometimes your nose will pick up on more confected notes and trick you into thinking the liquid is sweeter than it is. Some champagne houses may be familiar names, such as Taittinger or Veuve Clicquot, but we’ve tested a range of lesser known, budget-friendly and even best supermarket champagnes, too, to find a brilliant affordable bottle of bubbly. Blanc de noirs means it’s only made from dark grapes which you can taste in the vivid, orangey fruit moving into marmalade flavours that have a real smokiness on the finish. Ease it up, always with your hand over the cork in a firm grip and, as you hear a pop, you know you've opened it.Whether you're celebrating, or just because, a glass of rosé champagne is a great way to toast a special occasion (and particularly suited to Valentine's Day. When opening a bottle of fizz, remember it will behave far better and more predictably if it has been left to sit and chill for a few hours. This would be a mistake because in the past few years it has become one of the best Grand Marque non vintages around. But this secondary fermentation also produces flavours of toast, nuts and yeast – the flavours we most associate with champagne.

This elegant Champagne with fruit and floral notes is a traditional blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay and pairs excellently with Asian food and shellfish Grown in the iconic region of Épernay, Champagne. When you see the word ‘brut’ on the label, you can expect your champagne to taste dry with no perception of sweetness. Created using the méthode champenoise, this golden yellow sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. For something a little more unique, try a champagne mojito or refreshing sgroppino (mixing champagne with vodka and lemon sorbet).Although most loved the delicate rose petal and raspberry notes in this bottle, for others it was just a bit too subtle. Despite being a brut or “dry” style (like all the wines in this round-up), on test we detected a whiff of sweet strawberry. Made entirely from black grapes, pinot noir and pinot meunier, this is bursting with ripe stone fruit, flaky pastry and almonds.

Classic with a modern twist, it boasts a blush colour and well-structured flavour profile with fine, long lasting bubbles and hints of orange. In the event of any safety concerns or for any other information about a product please carefully read any instructions provided on the label or packaging and contact the manufacturer. During tasting, I was slightly disappointed by the non-vintage version of Les Pionniers, however its big brother, from the stellar 2008 vintage, knocked my socks off! Made in Italy, these champagne glasses have pinstripe indentations creating a retro, art deco look, with classic long stems that keep your champagne cooler for longer.This elegant Rosé Champagne with fruit and floral notes is a traditional blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay Grown in the iconic region of Épernay, Champagne. Initially it’s very fresh, but give it time and you’ll discover a yeasty richness underneath with some red cherry notes. For regular wine deliveries direct to your door, sign up to the BBC Good Food Wine Club for discounts on exclusively curated wine cases chosen by experts and the BBC Good Food team.