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Best crémant: 12 bottles that are better than champagne
And they're all under £20!
Tested by JoJo Anastasiou and Georgia Turnell
If you love the best champagne but don't love the price, may we suggest switching to France’s other, lesser-celebrated fizz, crémant? With bottles normally clocking in at under £20, we think the best crémant is the ultimate wine hack, offering terrific value while being every bit as tasty and elegant to drink.
To prove it, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute tried 18 bottles from all the supermarkets and online wine retailers, to bring you the best buys to stock up on.
Best crémant
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Find your favourite fizz, with more expert-tested reviews: Best English sparkling wine | Best cava | Best prosecco | Best non-alcoholic fizz
What is crémant?
Crémant is a sparkling wine produced in regions across France (outside of Champagne) and Luxembourg, using the “traditional method” (i.e. where the second fermentation occurs within the bottle, which is exactly how champagne is made). The name derives from the word "cremeux", meaning “creamy”, which refers to its super soft bubbles and oh-so-delicate texture.
How does crémant differ from champagne?
One of the major differences between crémant and champagne is the price tag. You really can get a lot more wine for your money (making it great for parties). And unlike champagne, which is made using three main grape varieties – chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier – crémant uses a wider variety of grapes, making it more versatile, with a style to suit every occasion.
Regional variations
The eight crémant-producing regions include Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, Savoie and Limoux. Each one offers a unique taste profile, from fruit-forward and floral to richer, toastier styles.
Food pairings
Crémant is an excellent aperitif, but it also pairs beautifully with a wide variety of food. Like champagne, you could try it with canapés and seafood, soft cheeses and salads. Rosé styles are also great with salmon or fruity desserts.
How we test crémant
To find the best crémant, our panel of WSET-trained experts and consumers tried 18 bottles, selecting the best buys from the leading supermarkets and brands. They were looking for a well-balanced, crisp and refreshing fizz, packed with smooth bubbles and a lasting, creamy finish.
So, if you’re looking to stock up, or just want to switch up your bubbles, these are the best bottles of crémant for 2025.
Score: 84/100
Our winning crémant comes from the Loire, and features chenin blanc as the dominant grape (with a touch of cabernet franc and chardonnay to boot). Bright and fruit-forward, you can expect plenty of thirst-quenching citrus, layered with stone fruit and a touch of honeysuckle. Our testers thought it was deliciously complex and loved the delicate bubbles and toasty finish.
We think you’d be hard pressed to find a champagne this good with change from 20 pounds.
Score: 82/100
Calvet’s fresh and zesty crémant is a great value sparkling wine with real character. On the palate, its vibrant acidity and creamy brioche flavour make it both fresh and versatile – perfect from aperitif to dessert.
Score: 82/200
With its fresh, summery aroma – think orange blossom, lemon peel, and peach – gentle bubbles and toasty richness, this well-made crémant de Limoux is a sophisticated, Champagne-style fizz (without the price tag). A smart choice for celebrations or special occasions.
Score: 81/100
Amie makes some of our favourite wines, including the best rosé, according to our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute. This one is made from 40-year-old, soon-to-be certified organic vines from Limoux (one of the oldest sparkling wine regions in the world!) and is super fresh.
A standout for those who appreciate aromatic sparkling wines, it opens with juicy lemon, peach and white blossom, and is complemented by a touch of honeyed sweetness, buttered toast notes, and a lively mousse. Refreshing and indulgent, we’re sold.
Morrisons The Best Cremant De Limoux Rose
Score: 81/100
It’s pink, it’s fizzy and you’ll have change from £15 – Morrisons' own-brand crémant rosé ticks a lot of boxes. This supermarket steal is a juicy, balanced blend of chardonnay, chenin blanc and pinot noir, and is bursting with summer berries, cherry blossom, red apple and a hint of baked spice.
An elegant, crowd-pleasing sparkler, it’s ideal for summer celebrations, aperitifs, or just a Friday night in – at this price, you don’t need an excuse!
Score: 81/100
Simple, fresh and summery, this might not be as complex as some of the more prestigious champagnes, but with its delicate floral aroma and notes of lemon peel, apple and gooseberry, it’s hard to beat a glass of this in the sunshine.
Score: 79/100
Made with chenin blanc grapes by an ex-Bollinger and Pommery winemaker, this crémant is aged on lees for two years, with a little oaked aged vintage wine added to the blend for extra complexity.
With notes of fresh lemon, apple and orange blossom, our testers felt it would be perfect for summer garden parties, and enjoyed the soft bubbles and smooth finish.
Score: 78/100
This super juicy drop is a real grower. It opens with notes of cherry blossom, apple, strawberry and grapefruit, and while some found it a touch sweet, we think it’s a fun, approachable sparkling wine for any occasion.
Score: 78/100
Crémant from Burgundy tends to have a slightly richer, more complex profile due to its use of pinot noir, and extended ageing, and this premium bottle is a great example.
On the nose, there's a creamy, honeyed sweetness, with notes of peach, apple and quince, while the palate is a little more cider-like, with lime acidity that would be a great match for sushi. A distinctive crémant for adventurous palates, it’s worth seeking out if you’re looking to explore what the different regions have to offer.
Score: 76/100
If you’re looking to pick up a bargain, head in-store to Lidl where you’ll find this fizz for under a tenner. Light, crisp and packed with juicy lemons, this well-priced crémant impressed our experts with its decadent toasted brioche flavour on the finish. A reliable, budget-friendly choice for any occasion.
Score: 76/100
Alternatively, this bottle from Aldi’s Specially Selected range is also from the Loire region, and while it was a little understated on the nose – think simple, crisp lemon sherbet and crunchy apple – it's a light, crisp and straightforward sparkler for easy drinking.
Score: 76/100
Displaying crémant d'Alsace’s distinctive notes of mouth-watering acidity, minerality, green apples, blossom and citrus, this organic fizz is worth seeking out. Our experts enjoyed the touch of honeyed brioche on the finish and the delicate bubbles. Cheers!
These also passed...
- Co-op La Maison du Vin Cremant, £12.75 for 75cl, Score: 74/100
- Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Cremant De Loire Rose, £12 for 75cl, Score: 74/100
- ASDA Extra Special Crémant De Loire Rosé Brut, £9.98 for 75cl, Score: 74/100
- Bowl Grabber Cremant Limoux Blanc Brut, £11.25 for 75cl, Score: 72/100
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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