Our expert sommelier judges are looking for sparkling wines from the classic three varietals – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier in this category.
Made via the traditional method the wines must have carried out second fermentation in bottle but can be from any wine producing country in the world: Australia, California, Canada, France, Spain, South Africa….if they are well-made and will excite sommelier palates then this is the category for your sparkling wines.
| Product Name | Score | Producer | Country | Vintage | |
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| Spier Cap Classique |
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Spier Wine Farm | South Africa | 2021 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Stellenbosch Judges’ Tasting Notes: The Spier Cap Classique Brut 2021 (51% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir) which spent 27 months on lees earned Best for Group Dining recognition and drew praise from judges who called it 'a beautiful example of an alternative to Champagne', being 'savoury, smoky, [with a] nice body'. Its 'very fine perlage' was also highlighted, offering 'candied oranges and nuttiness - freshness on point' which 'will compliment both meat and fish quite well'. Champion Award: Best for Group Dining |
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| Pinot Noir Rosé |
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Graham Beck Estate | South Africa | 2019 | |
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Champagne Alternatives Region: Western Cape Judges’ Tasting Notes: The Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé 2019 revealed 'layers of red fruits' unfolding with 'power, concentration and focus', which would pair beautifully 'with duck, turkey, pigeon and even grouse', while others praised its 'lovely creamy fruit attack' with 'gentle toast and biscuity notes', making it 'perfect pairing for a raspberry soufflé'. One judge declared it had the 'best colour of this round.' |
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| Pere Ventura Vintage Rosé Brut 2021 Gran Reserva |
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Pere Ventura | Spain | 2021 | |
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Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Cava D.O. Judges’ Tasting Notes: La Capella 2011 is a Paraje Calificado Brut Nature made from 100% Xarel·lo grown on a small 0.7-hectare plot of goblet-trained vines in Espiells, aged for 150 months on lees. Judges liked its depth and refinement, noting aromas of ‘baked apple’, ‘stone fruit’, ‘coconut’, and ‘toasted nuts’. The palate was described as ‘very elegant’ and ‘mouth-filling’, with ‘vibrant acidity’ and ‘silky and delicate bubbles’. |
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| Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia Rosé |
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Juvé & Camps | Spain | 2021 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Penedès Judges’ Tasting Notes: From organically managed vineyards in Espiells and Mediona, Reserva de la Família Rosé 2021 is a Gran Reserva Brut Nature crafted from Xarel·lo, Pinot Noir, and a touch of Garnacha, aged a minimum of 30 months on lees. Judges said it was a light, refreshing rosé with aromas of ‘sandalwood and sweet clove’, ‘fennel-y smokey notes’, and ‘balsamic, eucalypt and minty’ tones. The palate revealed ‘fresh red fruits’, ‘white strawberries’, and ‘sour cherry and lime acidity’, with textures ranging from ‘soft’ to ‘crispy’, and finishes described as ‘very long’, ‘lingering’, or simply ‘ok’. While one judge found it ‘one dimensional’, others noted its ‘excellent concentration’, ‘evolving’ character, and ‘mushroomy earthiness’. Versatile as an aperitif or paired with ‘creamy sauce and delicate protein’ Champion Award: Best Value |
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| Spier Prestige Cuvèe Brut |
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Spier Wine Farm | South Africa | 2017 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Elgin Valley Judges’ Tasting Notes: The Spier Prestige Cuvée 2017, made from 59% Chardonnay and 41% Pinot Noir, aged on lees for an extraordinary seven years in the bottle, earned praise from judges with quotes like 'juicy, full bodied, fresh and zesty despite being a 2017 - another beautiful example of a well-made champagne method wine with a lot of potential' and 'deep fruits more typical of Blanc de Noirs.' Conversely, another judge found it 'Lilt, beach juice'. However, it nonetheless attracted the full 100 points from one judge. |
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| Blanc de Blancs |
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Graham Beck Estate | South Africa | 2019 | |
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Champagne Alternatives Region: Robertson Judges’ Tasting Notes: Aged on lees for 60 months, the Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2019 was praised for its 'great ripeness that works very well with the elevated acidity' and noted 'biscuits and a subtle spice on the nose reminding me of a curry plant' with 'perfect balance between acidity and sugar level' and 'intense notes of brioche, pastry, and bread dough'. Food pairing suggestions included 'flaked Devon crabmeat with a Sichuan pepper flavoured jelly and Charentais melon coulis' and 'oriental dishes, or something that contains fennel'. |
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| Cuvée Clive |
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Graham Beck Estate | South Africa | 2019 | |
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Champagne Alternatives Region: Western Cape Judges’ Tasting Notes: Aged on its lees for five years, Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2019 was deemed 'outstanding due to it's complexity' and 'perfectly integrated secondary and primary aromas which balance the sharp acidity of the wine'. One judge noted its 'delicious savouriness and minimality, with a light toffee finish' while describing it as 'certainly gastronomic'. Another highlighted 'intense yeastiness', calling it 'a wine great to pair with nutty food and cheeses'. The wine was also described as being 'handmade seeming, with some oxidation', with one judge noting it 'certainly doesn't fit every occasion.' |
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| Classic Cuvee |
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Bolney Wine Estate | United Kingdom | NV | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: West Sussex Judges’ Tasting Notes: Of this traditional method Classic Cuvée from England's Bolney Wine Estate, judges praised the 'balance between acidity and dosage' and 'aromatic nose with savoury palate, pears and melon', with one noting 'ripe apple and preserved lemon notes complement the richness on the palate'. The wine's versatility shines through with suggested pairings including 'seasonal veg-based dishes - asparagus, beans and the like' due to its 'interesting pickled notes'. However, one judge found it 'lacking nuance [and] slightly short of finish - may benefit from age, but well made'. It scooped Best for Group Dining. Champion Award: Best for Group Dining |
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| Sonoma Brut |
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Gloria Ferrer Winery | United States | NV | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: California Subregion: Sonoma Judges’ Tasting Notes: Gloria Ferrer’s NV Sonoma Brut, a Carneros sparkler led by Pinot Noir and aged on lees for 18 months, was described as ‘seriously drinkable’, 'voluptuous', with a ‘luxurious mousse’ and ‘a finish that goes on and on’. Awarded ‘Best Value’. Champion Award: Best Value |
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| Ultra Brut |
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Graham Beck Estate | South Africa | 2018 | |
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Champagne Alternatives Region: Western Cape Judges’ Tasting Notes: The Graham Beck Ultra Brut 2018, aged on lees for 62 months, is 'a beautiful example of an alternative to champagne' with 'creamy and buttery, yet zesty and savoury' qualities, featuring a 'long finish'. Another noted its 'bright acidity and liveliness, balanced by the lees complexity' calling it an 'outstanding product'. The wine 'evokes Digestives, marmalade, nougat, rich, voluptuous, moreish' characteristics. |
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| Pere Ventura Tresor Cuvée Barrique Gran Reserva Brut 2019 |
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Pere Ventura | Spain | 2019 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Cava D.O. Judges’ Tasting Notes: Tresor Cuvée Barrique Gran Reserva Brut 2019 is a gastronomic Cava crafted from Xarel·Lo and Chardonnay, a portion of which is barrel-aged for added complexity. Judges praised its 'developed nose', 'savoury', 'briny length', and 'smoky', 'mushroomy' depth - a wine of ‘richness and intensity’ which makes it ‘an impressive value-for-money option’. There were expectations around it complementing haute cuisine - ‘even better when considering the value’ - indeed this scooped Best Value. Champion Award: Best Value |
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| Juvé & Camps La Capella |
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Juvé & Camps | Spain | 2011 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Penedès Judges’ Tasting Notes: La Capella 2011 is a Paraje Calificado Brut Nature made from 100% Xarel·lo, sourced from a heroic 0.7-hectare plot of goblet-trained vines in Espiells, aged for a remarkable 150 months on lees. Judges liked its extraordinary complexity and finesse, noting a nose of ‘baked apple’, ‘stone fruit’, ‘coconut’ and ‘toasted nuts’. The palate was described as ‘very elegant’, ‘mouth-filling’, with ‘vibrant acidity’ and ‘silky and delicate bubbles’. Its structure and depth were seen as a tribute to Xarel·lo and to the ageing potential of the Penedès’s finest terroirs. Awarded best for Preservation System Champion Award: Best for Preservation System |
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| Pere Ventura Vintage Brut 2017 Gran Reserva |
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Pere Ventura | Spain | 2017 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Cava D.O. Judges’ Tasting Notes: Pere Ventura Vintage 2017 is a Gran Reserva Brut made from 60% Xarel·lo and 40% Chardonnay, sourced from old vines in El Serral and L’Oreneta and aged six years on lees. Judges liked its finesse and gastronomic depth, noting a nose of ‘lemon, fennel and anise’, with a palate at once somehow ‘delicate and full-bodied’, showing ‘grapefruit’, ‘green pineapple’, and ‘almonds’. The mousse was described as ‘slow and delicate’, ‘fine’, and ‘very well integrated’. A complex, citrus-led Cava with a ‘long finish’. |
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| Juvé & Camps Gran Juvé |
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Juvé & Camps | Spain | 2018 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Penedès Judges’ Tasting Notes: Organically farmed vineyards across Alt Penedès, Gran Juvé & Camps 2018 yield this Gran Reserva Brut made from Chardonnay, Xarel·lo, Macabeo, and Parellada, aged 60 months on lees. Judges noted aromas of ‘roasted nuts’, ‘burnt caramel’, ‘sweet spices’, and ‘brioche’, with a palate of ‘stone fruits’, ‘citrus’, and ‘smoke and savoury’ depth. Described as ‘full-bodied’ with ‘fine bubbles’, ‘good acidity’, and a ‘lingering creaminess’, it was praised for its ‘power’, ‘intensity’, and age-worthiness. One found it ‘a bit shy’, but overall it was seen as a wine with ‘a sense of occasion’. Awarded Best for Preservation System Champion Award: Best for Preservation System |
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| Pinot Meunier |
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Graham Beck Estate | South Africa | 2022 | |
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Champagne Alternatives Region: Western Cape Judges’ Tasting Notes: The Graham Beck Pinot Meunier 2022 is South Africa's first 100% Pinot Meunier Cap Classique fermented under cork, resulting in a 'very good alternative to Champagne, with great balance, fine bubbles' and 'very interesting palate with a distinctive layer of kitchen herbs and umami not dissimilar to, dare I say, a light soy sauce'. The wine's versatility shines through with food pairing suggestions including 'black truffle and Parmesan, to create 'a huge contrast in flavours and cut the richness of the dish'. One judge noted, the acidity 'is quite high still, for sure capable of ageing further.' |
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| Juvé & Camps Milesimé Chardonnay |
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Juvé & Camps | Spain | 2020 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Penedès Judges’ Tasting Notes: Harking from Juvé & Camps’ Can Rius estate in Alt Penedès, the Milesimé Chardonnay 2020 is a certified organic Gran Reserva Brut, made from 100% Chardonnay and aged over 48 months on lees. Judges noted a ‘fragrant nose quite typical of cava’, with aromas of ‘ripe yellow pear’, ‘yellow apple’, and ‘tinned pineapple’. The palate was described as ‘dry with moderate acidity’, showing ‘peach’, ‘melon’, and ‘ripe apple’, alongside layers of ‘buttery vanilla’, ‘toast’, and a touch of ‘noisette’. The mousse was praised as ‘creamy and well-integrated’, contributing to its ‘rich’, ‘creamy’ style and ‘rounder body’, with a ‘quite long finish’. Judges found it highly versatile – pairing well with ‘lobster tortellino’, ‘prawn salad’, ‘cheese and crackers’, or a ‘lemon-based dessert’. |
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| Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia |
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Juvé & Camps | Spain | 2021 | |
Purchase |
Champagne Alternatives Region: Catalonia Subregion: Penedès Judges’ Tasting Notes: Reserva de la Família 2021 is a Gran Reserva Brut Nature aged 36 months in bottle, made from organically grown grapes in Alt Penedès. Judges liked its balance, freshness, and poise, noting a ‘cristal clear lemon colour’, a nose of ‘apple’, ‘pear’, and ‘citrus’, and a palate that’s ‘dry’ with ‘lovely lemony acidity’ and a ‘long mineral finish’. Additional notes of ‘cotton candy’ and ‘exotic fruits’ were observed, though some found it less complex. Still, judges praised its ‘refreshing acidity’, calling it a strong contender for food pairing or serving ‘by the glass’. |
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