The most-anticipated event of awards season is nearly upon us, which means it is officially time to start preparing for your Oscars viewing party.
On Sunday, the 92nd Academy Awards will take place in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, where stars will grace the red carpet before taking their seats to find out which films have been named winners.
While most aspects of Oscars night are extravagantly priced - from the jewels to the gowns - there is one luxury that viewers at home can easily enjoy and afford, the champagne.
This year, like the past five years, Oscars attendees will be offered unlimited glasses of Piper-Heidsieck champagne - the sole champagne served during the Academy Awards.
And, according to Aidy Smith, wine columnist for The Independent and TV presenter of Amazon’s The Three Drinkers, the bubbly is surprisingly good value.
“I’ve attended my fair share of awards ceremonies and with the exception of a few, there’s always a recurring theme - the wine is… challenging,” Smith said. However, he says this is not the case with the Oscars.
“Outside of the grower champagne world, there’s few bubbles that for the price, resemble great quality - Piper-Heidsieck is one of them,” he told us. “What I love about this house is that they are open to the ways in which people enjoy their prized fizz and, in doing so, have pushed the boundaries of exploration when it comes to food and cocktails.”
According to Smith, despite a lengthy history, dating back to 1777, the champagne house manages to “understand the modern era and how people of all walks of life like to enjoy a diverse range of drinks”.
A typical bottle of Piper-Heidsieck champagne retails for $49.99, while a magnum bottle costs roughly $109.
If you want to live vicariously through Oscars attendees and “keep your wallet happy,” the champagne is a good place to start.
This year, attendees will also be offered vegan options at the awards, before attending the Oscars Governors Ball, where it was announced 70 per cent of the menu will be plant-based.
