With Christmas on the horizon, there's no better time to pop a bottle of bubbly.
Champagne sure is a special treat, but most of us don't have the budget to splash out the cash on an expensive bottle.
Turning to cheaper supermarket version to keep costs down is often the better option - but that's not actually a bad thing.
That's because experts have found that supermarket branded champagne 'tastes better' than some of the more premium brands - with a £12 bottle making the top five.
Consumer watchdog Which? set up a blind test taste with a panel of judges trying out 19 non-vintage champagnes - which included 14 supermarkets brands against five big-name brands.
The results revealed that all supermarket offerings were officially named to be Best Buys for Christmas 2021, which is good news for those looking to stick to a budget this Christmas.
Waitrose took the crown with their Blanc De Noirs Brut NV Champagne, which costs just £24 a bottle, The Manchester Evening News reports.
The winning festive bubbly was described as a 'fresh and fruity fizz' and called 'lip-smacking' by one of the experts.
Co-op's Les Pionniers Non-Vintage Champagne, £19 a bottle, came joint-second, alongside M&S Champagne Delacourt Brut NV (£25) and Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne (£21).
Lidl's budget friendly £12 bottle came in 'not far behind the top bottles' and was praised for its 'subtle, complex aromas' by the judges.
Those looking for a cheaper bottle of bubbles this year will be delighted to hear that all five supermarkets came out on top over the premium branded Moet & Chandon and Taittinger.
Co-ops wine was celebrated for being the cheapest Best Buy on the list, with judges praising its 'rich aromas and complex savoury flavours'.
The M&S wine was called a 'complex, richly textured Champagne that was pleasant and fruity with prominent acidity'.
And Tesco's Champagne was described as 'toasty and nutty with notes of toffee apple and a lemony freshness which balanced well against the yeasty complexity'.
As well as having 'subtle, complex aromas', Lidl's Champagne was celebrated for its 'fresh acidity and a clean, fruity taste'.
So, before you go reaching for that higher price-tag to wow your guests, head to your local supermarket for some ultra cheap - yet still delicious - bottles of bubbles.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
