Champagne from Aldi and Co-Op topped Christmas taste tests, leaving the high-end competition feeling weak

Famous champagne houses will remain closed this Christmas as budget supermarket Fizz emerged as the winner in taste tests.

Champagne from Co-op and Aldi outperformed a prestige brand twice in Christmas tests.

And it was a particularly nice holiday for Co-op, which also won first place with its mince pies.

The results prove that shoppers can celebrate without breaking their budget. Consumer Champion Which? asked a group of four wine experts to blind taste a variety of sparkling beers.

Co-op’s Les Pionniers champagne, priced at £22.75, was a hit, scoring 85 per cent and named a Best Buy.

The experts praised the soft creaminess, the pleasant freshness and the long, savory aftertaste.

It was closely followed by Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne, £21.99, which received an 81% rating and also received the Best Buy award.

The judges said this fizz displayed fresh fruit flavors with a “tasty backbone”.

These bottles were rated higher than the most expensive champagne the jury tasted.

It was a particularly good Christmas time for Co-op, which also took first place with its mince pies (archive image)

The £47 Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne scored 77 per cent.

The taste was elegant and fresh, but the judges said there were many cheaper champagnes that were just as good – if not more so.

Other supermarket offerings were well received by the pundits, including Veuve Olivier & Fils Secret de Cave Champagne from Asda (£28) and Brut Champagne from Waitrose (£21.99).

Natalie Hitchins from which? said: “Our taste tests have produced excellent supermarket Champagnes and cheaper alternatives that offer quality and value for money and more than rival a well-known Champagne house.”