Champagne buying guide: how to choose the right bottles
The essentials
For a successful champagne purchase: choose the style to suit the occasion (non-vintage brut for an aperitif, blanc de blancs for a meal, vintage champagne as a gift), compare the major houses with independent winegrowers, and buy from a specialist wine merchant who can guarantee the champagne’s provenance and storage conditions.
- Which champagne should you buy for an aperitif?
- A non-vintage brut or a blanc de blancs: freshness and liveliness are key. Expect to pay between €20 and €35 for a fine bottle from a small producer.
- How much does a good champagne cost?
- From around twenty euros at an independent winegrower’s. For between 35 and 60 €, you can find excellent ‘blanc de blancs’ and vintage champagnes. Above that price range, you’re looking at prestige cuvées.
- Is it safe to buy champagne online?
- Yes, provided you buy from a specialist wine merchant who guarantees the wine’s provenance, storage conditions and reinforced packaging. That’s what we do here at Pépites en Champagne.
- How long can you keep a bottle of champagne?
- A non-vintage brut should be enjoyed within 2 to 3 years. A vintage brut can be kept for 5 to 10 years or more, depending on the cuvée, in a cool, dark cellar.
Brut, rosé, blanc de blancs, vintage… with hundreds of cuvées to choose from, how can you be sure you’re making the right choice? Here are our practical tips for buying the right champagne, depending on the occasion and your budget.
Buying champagne: 3 questions to ask yourself before choosing
A successful champagne purchase starts with three simple questions: what’s the occasion, at what stage of the meal, and what’s your budget? You wouldn’t choose an aperitif champagne in the same way as a champagne to accompany a gourmet meal, and a cuvée intended as a gift doesn’t meet the same criteria as a bottle for a get-together with friends.
Choosing the right style of champagne
Non-vintage Brut: the safe bet
This is the core range of every champagne house and the most versatile style: perfect for an aperitif, a toast or a celebration. It showcases the house’s blending expertise and remains consistent from one year to the next. Browse our selection of champagnes to compare the styles of different houses.
Blanc de blancs: finesse and minerality
Made exclusively from Chardonnay, Blanc de Blancs champagne captivates with its freshness and vibrancy. It is the ideal accompaniment to seafood, fish and refined aperitifs.
Rosé: indulgence and character
Rosé champagne pairs just as well with a red-fruit dessert as it does with a summer meal. Its palette ranges from delicate pale rosé to full-bodied ‘rosé de saignée’.
Vintage: the expression of a year
Produced only in exceptional years, vintage champagne gains in complexity with age. It is the perfect choice as a gift or to mark a special occasion: a birthday, a birth or an achievement.
A major house or an independent winemaker?
The grand houses offer impeccable consistency and world-renowned prestige cuvées. Independent winegrowers, on the other hand, produce terroir-driven champagnes that are often more distinctive, at more affordable prices whilst offering comparable quality — what we call our ‘hidden gems’. If you’d like to buy champagne directly from the producer without having to travel to the Champagne region, our wine cellar brings together the major houses and selected independent winemakers in one place, with careful dispatch.
What budget should you allow?
There’s no need to spend a fortune to enjoy a good glass of champagne. There’s something for every budget:
- €20 to €35: non-vintage brut champagnes from independent winegrowers and entry-level cuvées from the major houses — perfect for aperitifs and large gatherings;
- €35 to €60: blancs de blancs, rosés and first vintages — the best value for money at the table;
- €60 and over: prestige cuvées and fine vintages — for gifts or special occasions.
Tip: when buying champagne in bulk (for a wedding or end-of-year celebrations), delivery is free on orders of €300 or more in mainland France, and you’ll receive a €40 discount on orders of €500 or more, and a €100 discount on orders of €1,000 or more.
Where can you buy champagne with complete confidence?
Buying champagne online has one key advantage: choice. Whilst a supermarket shelf might stock ten different varieties, a specialist wine merchant offers hundreds, along with expert advice. Check three things before ordering: the retailer’s specialisation (champagne requires careful storage), the clarity of the product descriptions (dosage, blend, food pairings) and the care taken with dispatch — a bottle that’s been shaken or exposed to heat loses a great deal of its quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which champagne should you buy for an aperitif?
A non-vintage brut or a blanc de blancs: freshness and liveliness are key. Expect to pay between €20 and €35 for a fine bottle from a small producer.
How much does a good champagne cost?
From around twenty euros from an independent winemaker. Between €35 and €60, you can find excellent Blanc de Blancs and vintage champagnes. Above that, you’re looking at prestige cuvées.
Can you buy champagne online safely?
Yes, provided you buy from a specialist wine merchant who guarantees the champagne’s provenance, storage conditions and reinforced packaging. That’s what we specialise in at Pépites en Champagne.
How long can you keep a bottle of champagne?
A non-vintage brut is best enjoyed within 2 to 3 years. A vintage champagne can be kept for 5 to 10 years or more, depending on the cuvée, in a cool, dark cellar.