12 best English sparkling wines for your next celebration, tried and tested

Score: 87/100

Located just outside the picturesque town of Rye, East Sussex, lies Oxney’s Soil Association-certified organic vineyard. Displaying rich, ripe notes of brioche and red apple, backed up with passionfruit, peach and mango, our panel found this one refreshing and well-defined.

Score: 86/100

Don’t let the deceptively sweet nose – a blend of honey, elderflower and pear drops – fool you into thinking this sparkling wine is anything but dry.

Made from a blend of vintages, baked apple and pronounced brioche is balanced by lively citrus acidity, creating a refreshing sparkler. If you’re looking for an alternative to champagne for special occasions, we think this is perfect.

Score: 86/100

Made in leafy Hampshire, Coates & Seely’s “Britagne” (pronounced “brit-an-ye” rather than rhyming with champagne), is every bit as complex as its French counterpart.

It won our panel over with notes of green apple, lemon and buttery richness. In fact, they were such fans of this well-structured, indulgent wine, they felt it was a dead ringer for champagne.

Score: 86/100

Made by Balfour’s Hush Heath estate for Tesco, these grapes are hand harvested to make a wine brimming with buttered brioche, apricot and lemon.

Expect powerful bubbles and plenty of refreshing acidity. The long-lasting finish adds a welcome complexity that you may not expect to find at this price.

Score: 84/100

This cuvée is made from a blend of traditional sparkling wine grapes – chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier – grown on Waitrose’s very own Hampshire vineyard.

Testers enjoyed its dry and refreshing nature, picking out ripe orchard fruits, lemon curd and a whiff of biscuit that would pair well with smoked salmon blinis.

Score: 84/100

If it's pink fizz you're after, make it Rathfinny. Our top-rated rosé combines delicate strawberry notes with zesty lemon and subtle toastiness, all lifted by bright, well-judged acidity.

The fine bubbles create a soft, creamy mouthfeel, making this an elegant bottle for any celebration.

Score: 83/100

Daylesford’s English sparkling blush is pure elegance. It displays an aromatic bouquet of wildflowers, lavender and freshly cut grass, reminiscent of the Kent and West Sussex plots the grapes were sourced from.

And with tasting notes of sweet summer berries and blossom, this would be a decadent pairing alongside an indulgent afternoon tea.

Score: 82/100

Part of Morrisons’ “The Best” range, this supermarket English fizz is aged for over six years, and delivers impressive complexity for the price. Expect a dry, savoury style, with plenty of toasted pastry balanced with fresh lemon notes and creamy bubbles.

The ageing brings richness and depth, making this a particularly good match for goat's cheese.

Score: 82/100

Camel Valley’s flagship wine is fresh and fruity, making it ideal for almost every occasion. And while not hugely aromatic, it more than makes up for it on the palate, with a fruit-forward thwack of lemon, honey and peach.

Score: 81/100

Alex Jones, bassist in iconic Britpop band Blur has created this classic sparkling wine with the same traditional method used to make champagne.

The result is dry, green aromas and flavours with tart citrus and subtle buttery notes. Our testers found it very pleasant to drink – either as an aperitif or paired with a creamy pasta dish.