It seems a bit odd to suggest we should toast the end of Hell Year 2020 with some beautiful champagne or prosecco, but then again it might help to wash away some of the terrible taste and replace it with something altogether more delicious. On balance, I think it’s probably time for some bubbles, and I’ve tracked down a few excellent award winning drinks for you to try.

Top rated champagnes and other sparkling wines usually sell out at lightning speed when they’re at bargain prices, but these beauties are still in stock at time of publication (but don’t leave it too long if you see something you like).

Champagne

Best of the best:

• Waitrose & Partners Brut Special Reserve Vintage Champagne 2008, £25.99. IWSC 95/100 and gold medal, Olive magazine silver medal. Baked apples and buttery croissants on the nose with a savoury nuttiness, yet still fresh and zesty. Currently on sale at £22.99. << BEST BUY VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE
• Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Champagne, £23.99. Good Housekeeping winner 84/100, IWSC 92/100 silver medal. Green apple and brioche notes on the nose, crisp and refreshing flavour. On offer for £17.99. << PENNY’S PICK
• Morrisons The Best Rosé Brut Champagne NV, £21.00. IWSC silver medal 91/100. Well-balanced and crisp, with ripe strawberry aromas, hints of honey and herbs. The only pink champagne on the awards lists this year.
• M&S Champagne Delacourt Vintage Brut 2004, £27.00 at Ocado. Olive magazine gold medal.

Best of the rest:

• Aldi Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut, £12.99, buy online. Good Housekeeping 2nd place 81/100. Refreshing and floral, with apple and elderflower on the palate, and a touch of richness. << BEST LOW PRICED CHAMPAGNE
• Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne, £20.00. Olive magazine silver medal. Clean, zippy and bright, with notes of toasted hazelnuts and an elegant creaminess.
• Sainsbury’s Landric Brut Champagne, £25.00. Which? magazine 3rd place. Lemony acidity, toasty and nutty aftertaste. On offer for £20.00, also in ‘buy 6 get 25% off’ deal.

Prosecco & other sparkling wine

If you like champagne but your budget doesn’t stretch to the cheapest one, you might like to pick up a nice French crémant instead – it’s made pretty much in the same way, just in a different part of the country, with similar flavours. There’s also some excellent prosecco around for 2020 if you prefer this style of wine, or an English sparkler if you want to push the boat out.

Best of the best:

• Morrisons The Best Prosecco, NV, £7.00. IWC Great Value sparkling under £12, 92/100. Rich and creamy notes of apple and stone fruit. Long and persistent finish. << BEST VALUE PROSECCO
• ASDA Extra Special Crémant de Loire Brut, £9.00. Decanter 91/100 silver medal. Attractive nose of lemon, honey and toast, then red apple, biscuit and good acidity on the palate. On offer for £8.00 this week.
• ASDA Extra Special Prosecco Asolo Brut DOCG, £8.00. Olive magazine gold medal. Warm apricot fruit, kept crisp and fresh with zingy mineral notes.
• Aldi Crémant du Jura 2018, £8.49 online and in stores. Decanter 91/100 silver medal. Green apple and lemon sherbet on the nose with stony hints, vibrant fruit palate with rounded texture. << BEST VALUE CHAMPAGNE SUBSTITUTE.

Best of the rest:

• M&S Classics Prosecco, £8.00 at Ocado. Olive magazine silver medal. Classic prosecco flavours of pear, green apple and citrus, along with notes of buttered toast.
• Morrisons, The Best Brut English Sparkling Wine NV, £17.00. Decanter 90/100 silver medal. Green apple and pear notes, crisp acidity keeping it fresh and alive. << BEST ENGLISH SPARKLING
• Morrisons The Best Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco, £8.00. Decanter 90/100 silver medal. Creamy palate with notes of candied lime, pear and almond, and long finish.

There we are, a stress-free guide to the best sparkling wines around right now, including some handy special offers. Cheers me dears!