Top 8 sparkling drinks for this Valentine’s day

VALENTINE’S Day is an opportunity to celebrate love with a glass of fizz, says Roz Crowley.

There is a huge range of fizzy drinks, and with an equally wide range of prices. For the Champagne lover, not much will equal the effervescence of persistent, fine bubbles (always a good sign) and the distinctive aroma and taste of toast or brioche.

Cava and Prosecco fight for their share of bargain territory, but most Cavas in the shops win hands-down. However, a celebratory night is sometimes more about the bubbles than the flavour, and I love a fizzy cocktail. Cheaper wines are ideal for this. (See ideas below.)

Given the awareness of our terrible over-indulgence in alcohol, I also looked at low-alcohol and alcohol-free alternatives.

You don’t have to finish a bottle in one night. Leftover fizz, sealed with a regular wine cork or wine gadget, will keep for a day and is also delicious when used in the roasting pan to enrich chicken or duck; also, in a fish sauce, risotto or stir fry.

And for a bottle equivalent of a Valentine selfie, Thimbleberry has red and white wines, with peel-back labels, so you can personalise the bottle with a photo of yourself, or you and your lover. Have fun!

Aldi Contevedo Cava Brut 11.5% alcohol €10.49

Cava is the Spanish fizz ranging from dry (brut) to quite sweet (dulce). It’s made in the same way as Champagne’s secondary fermentation in the bottle (metodo tradicional) for no less than nine months, resulting in long-lasting bubbles. Loads of fresh, clean, lively fruit here which lingers in the mouth is well able to stand up to roast chicken. Try it with fried fish, salads, tapas and as a pre-dinner treat. Testers wanted to sip this one all night, and at this price could afford to.

Score:

9

Wiston Estate South Downs Rosé 2011 12% alcohol €62

Served at this year’s Bafta awards parties, it gets all the care and attention of Champagne. Made by Irishman Dermot Sugre in Sussex, the Pinot skins are pressed gently to give it its pink colour and there is even a scent of strawberry. All tasters loved the depth of flavour and elegance and fresh finish. Worth the price, if you can stretch to it. From Bradley’s supermarket North Main Street Cork, Le Caveau Kilkenny and Ballymaloe cookery school shop.

Score: 9

Bottle Green sparkling ginger and lemongrass zero alcohol €3.20

This is not a wine, but a lively, sparkling alcohol-free drink with plenty of ginger and lemongrass flavours which suit food well, especially Asian styles. It’s delicious added to Prosecco for an easy cocktail. Add a long sliver of lemongrass to the glass for style. Made in Britain.

Score: 7.5

Tesco Finest Prosecco Brut 11.5% alcohol €17.99

Prosecco doesn’t pretend to compete with Champagne. It’s more an Italian short-cut fizz, taking less time to make, so is always cheaper than Champagne. It can go from dry (brut) to quite sweet (semi sec). Tasters were divided on this, saying it was much better than the Grifon Prosecco, but when they saw it was almost twice the price, reduced their marks. It has consistent, fine bubbles, but the flavour was a bit flat.

Score: 5.5

Grifón Prosecco 11% alcohol €9

The cork on this is distinctively tied down with string instead of the usual more sturdy wire. Low in flavour, with hints of pear, the bubbles didn’t last long. Most tasters thought it lacked flavour, but the price saved it for party fizz. Add crushed peaches for a delicious Bellini, the Italian cocktail, or crushed satsumas/mandarins for a more seasonal treat.

From Centra/Supervalu

Score: 5.5

Carl Jung Mousseux 0.5% alcohol €6.99

This wine is dealcoholised by removing yeast cells to avoid the fermentation in the bottle which creates the alcohol. I didn’t initially tell tasters it had no alcohol, but they immediately found it lacking in oomph and thought it tasted more like frothy lemonade than a type of wine. However, all agreed it was a good drink for designated drivers who deserve some fizz.

Score: 4

Lidl Comte de Brismand Brut Reserve Champagne 12% alcohol €19.99

We tried this Champagne to see if it was possible to find one that was inexpensive and good. Tasted blind, it was immediately identified as Champagne. Impressed by the zinging bubbles, body and light toasty flavours, they were even more impressed when they saw the price, comparing it favourably to more expensive Champagnes which we didn’t have room to feature here. All agreed it was much more interesting than higher priced Cava and Prosecco.

Score: 7.5

Tesco Finest Vintage Cava Brut Nature 2011 11.5% alcohol €10.69

Brut nature on the label suggests no added sugar, hence very dry, and this Cava is that in the extreme with a little pear flavour with tiny hint of Champagne-like toastiness in there too. The bubbles lasted quite well. ‘Vintage’ on the label usually means grapes were picked in one (good) year and often suggests it will keep for a few years, but not at this price, and not this one. Best drunk now. Tasters thought it good value, but not better than the Aldi sample.

Score: 6