Fizz Not Champagne

Four bottles of good-value fizz from France- all not from Champagne

I'll be honest, a good Champagne is my favourite type of fizz. With its yeasty-biscuity brioche, savouriness and linear acidity, it is a great amongst all wines, not just those containing bubbles.

However, really good Champagne is not cheap and always carries a premium price to some extent.

So, when you just need a chilled fresh fizz, or if you simply want to try other types of French fizz, here are four examples to consider from Grands Chais de France.

Calvet Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé (Ocado, £11.99) elegant redcurrant fruit; citrssy, leesy and mineral. Good.

Terre de La Baume Crémant de Limoux (not yet available in UK) citrussy, floral, sherbetey and fresh; fine mousse

Arthur Metz Cuvée 1904 (not yet available in UK) fresh, citrussy and elegant with a persistent, mineral backbone 

Crémant de Sauvion (Oxford Wine Company, £13.99) citrussy, fresh and elegant, with a precise, structured Champagne-esque brioche character. Good.

Serve any of these wines as an aperitif, with starters or Boxing Day cold cuts.

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