I’m a wine expert and a popstar’s brand of pink fizz for £9 is the best tipple for Valentines Day
LOVE is in the air. But this Valentine’s Day the cost of living crisis means for many of us Cupid will have to deliver romance on a budget.
If you are planning a date night at home, nothing says passion like pink fizz – and there are some sparkling offers in the supermarkets.
We asked wine expert Helena Nicklin, of thethreedrinkers.com, to run the rule over bottles of budget bubbly all costing £10 or less and mark them out of five.
Kylie Minogue Prosecco Extra Dry, £9, sainsburys.co.uk
THE Princess of Pop’s perfectly packaged soft pink Prosecco tastes as good as it looks.
The bubbles have a vibrant pink colour and poured into a flute that screams Valentine’s Day.
There is an interesting, intense flavour and at under a tenner a bottle it’s a bargain.
Perfect for sip-ping on its own under the covers.
Taste The Difference, Fairtrade Moscato, £5.25, Sainsbury’s
IF your plan this Valentine’s is to scoff pud on the sofa with a glass of cool fizz, then go for a deeper pink Moscato like this.
Be prepared for a whack of floral, lemon cream, grapey sweetness.
It’s a lot by itself but will stand up brilliantly to sweet or salty snacks.
Great value at barely more than a fiver.
La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé Millesimato, £8, Tesco
ANOTHER dreamy, vintage Rosé Prosecco with mega label appeal that’s full of romance from a renowned Italian producer.
With fine, soft bubbles, it’s strawberries and cream in a glass.
Silky and rather delicious and perfect for popping open on February 14.
Lovely with simple Italian grub like spag bol or pizza.
Allini Pinot Grigio Blush Spumante, £5.99, Lidl
IF you prefer your sparkling wine quite dry, this blush Spumante is for you and your beloved.
Nostalgic aromas of Jelly Tots sweets give way to surprisingly savoury and dry fizzy flavours.
It’s a real bargain and would be great for mixing some Valentine’s cocktails like blushing Bellinis.
Plaza Pink Sparkling Rosé Brut, £7.50, tesco.com
THIS Italian sparkler is not quite a Prosecco, but this frothy bottle of bubbles does a decent job for the cash.
A very light body and strong, peardrop notes.
It’s an easy glugger and would be better with food.
Pairs best with subtle, aphrodisiac, in-the-mood eats such as oysters, crab and shellfish.
Organic Prosecco Rosé Extra Dry, £8.79, Aldi
CLASSY bottle and pretty, pale-coloured contents is very easy on the eye.
This Prosecco from Italy has a fuller body and offers more fruitiness and is also lovely and refreshing.
Impressive, reliable and enjoyable fizz.
Great for gifting to someone special or glugging with salty snacks.
Heart Prosecco Rosé, £7.50, Sainsbury’s
PROVENCAL pink in colour and with a cute heart on the label, this pretty fizz from Italy has Valentine’s Day written all over it.
Simple and fairly sweet to sip, with soft, strawberry flavours.
Pop the cork and it willl go down a treat with a spicy Thai takeaway with your other half on a date night at home.
Specially Selected, Crémant de Bordeaux, £8.75, Aldi
IF Prosecco-style fizz is nor for you or the love in your life, then this classy Crémant from Bordeaux will be right up your street.
Made the same way as “real” Champagne, this is a more complex, serious pink fizz.
Excellent value for money and perfect with posh savoury nosh like smoked salmon.