Own-brand bubbly leaves top producers red-faced

SOME of the grand old masters of the bubbly business were left red faced yesterday and it wasn’t down to an over-indulgent Christmas tasting session.

Instead rosy-cheeked executives at some of the world's premier sparkling maisons were trying to swallow the not so sweet news that a Tesco own-brand bubbly beat them in a tasting survey.

Tesco's Premier Cru Brut NV came out top in a blind tasting of 24 champagnes and 11 sparkling wines by British consumer magazine Which?.