The bubbles from LIDL for a bargain
At this time of year, sommeliers come out of the woodwork to provide us with wise advice on what to drink and how to do it. Let me introduce you to Sharon, editor-in-chief of online food (and feel free to say drink) magazine FavorFlav with some wine, uhh wise champagne advice. And this advice will save you from bad purchases and euros.
Champagne Brut Reserve de Brismand, Lidl €14.99
This champagne has been a top seller in Lidl's assortment for years. During blind champagne tastings with my wine club, it always comes out as one of the winners, which is impressive among more than a hundred bottles, some of which are ten times more expensive! And not only does it stand out on our tasting table. Comte de Brismand frequently wins (inter)national awards. And that for less than fifteen euros!
Champagne Bissinger, Lidl €17.99
‘Champagne is the only drink that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it,’ said Madame de Pompadour, the famous mistress of King Louis XV about her love for a glass of fizz. And with a price package (literally and figuratively) like Bissinger, you can easily sip a few glasses on NYE without a burning credit card. And indulge in luxury; leave that greasy oliebol behind, as it's a shame with a glass of champagne, but enjoy an oyster in style alongside it.
Made as champagne
Annually, about 349 million bottles of champagne are produced – and there is quite strict oversight on that. Champagne can only be called that if the bubble comes from the eponymous region. The method of making champagne (Méthode Traditionelle or Méthode Champenoise) is indeed applied worldwide. However, it is not called champagne outside of Champagne, but crémant (in France), cava (Spain), sparkling wine (South Africa), the better Italian proseccos, and even in Germany, they make one called sekt (with the addition of Flaschengärung). That's why I also want to recommend a bang-for-your-buck champagne look-alike for less than seven euros.
Crémant de Bourgogne, Lidl €6.99
True story: a few years ago, at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, Lidl's Crémant de Bourgogne was awarded a ‘Silver Outstanding’ award. This means that the sparkling wine received a score between 86 and 89.9. The same score went to the vintage champagne Veuve Clicquot 2008. A champagne that costs over 50 euros, do the math. Stock up and keep it standard in your fridge!
Text: FavorFlav
