15 best proseccos for Christmas, taste-tested by an expert

Sleek and modern, this prosecco is designed to impress. Exclusive to Virgin Wines, it offers crisp orchard fruit and vivacious bubbles that bring mountain-fresh vibes from the Venetian hills. Expect delicate flavours of pear, apple and melon, with a touch of lime and apricot on the finish. Crisp, crunchy, vibrant and refreshing all come to mind while enjoying the lively mousse. Il Colmo means ‘the pinnacle’, and, at this price, it’s difficult to argue against that sentiment.

A true steal at less than £10, Tesco’s prosecco features notes of white peach, ripe pear and fragrant white blossom. This elegant sparkler is a standout find from the premium vineyards of the Valdobbiadene hills. It’s dry, zesty and refreshing, with just the right balance of fruit and acidity. The approachable alcohol percentage with the dry profile makes it easy-going, but with enough complexity to intrigue with each sip.

A top-end example from Duca di Dolle, this is a blend of 90 per cent glera, 5 per cent verdiso and 5 per cent perera, from some of the best vineyards in the Prosecco Superiore DOCG. With a pale straw colour, vibrant bubbles and aromas of apple and pear as well as lively floral and citrus notes, it is everything you could want from a prosecco. Its fresh, crisp finish makes each sip as refreshing as the last, and it pairs perfectly with mature cheeses and cured meats. It also works beautifully with shellfish.

What a wine this is. Villa Degli Olmi’s prosecco is a standout, crafted through natural fermentation from a fourth-generation family winery. This extra-dry sparkler showcases fragrant notes of jasmine, vibrant apple, and citrus, alongside a creamy mousse and a subtle mineral touch. It consistently outperforms more-expensive competitors, being awarded a host of competition medals.

The Bresolin brothers are pursuing the admirable craft of organic wine, and their silvery prosecco shines with straw-yellow highlights and fine bubbles – it really is intriguing in the glass. Expect a fragrant nose of fresh apple and acacia blossom, while the palate is crisp, with notes of green apple, pear, elderflower, and vivid lemon. Exceptionally well-balanced, it finishes with a unique touch of salty minerality. With the delicious citrus, a subtle earthy quality throughout and refreshing salinity to the aftertaste, you’d be a fool not to enjoy this alongside seafood.

Pink prosecco hasn’t been around long, and this Kylie Minogue fizz might surprise you, as the red fruits are subtle, fresh and mellow, avoiding the cloying and synthetic pitfalls that are the downfall of so many proseccos. Made from a blend of glera and pinot noir grapes in the Veneto region, this super dry and refreshing rosé fizzes with flavours of fresh strawberries, red cherries, and raspberries, balanced beautifully by background floral notes. The soft pale pink hue and charming heart design on the bottle – not to mention the aura of Kylie glamour – make it perfect for parties.

This charming prosecco from Treviso, Veneto, is a light, aromatic delight, full of crisp citrus, apple, and pear flavours. Its soft bubbles and romantic label, inspired by the legendary love story of Romeo and Juliet, make it a perfect party centrepiece. Made from 100 per cent glera grapes and produced using the Charmat method, it’s bright, fresh, vivacious and brimming with orchard fruits and a touch of citrus. This pleasant tang overlaps into a pleasing mineral finish. Being so food-friendly and emitting lovey-dovey vibes, this is perfectly placed alongside a romantic home-cooked meal.

Exclusive to Majestic, this bottle offers a perfect balance between prosecco styles. Its seductive melon, pear and apple notes deliver residual sweetness but there’s also plenty of fizz and crisp citrus bite. The smoothness is to die for, and the fresh fragrance keeps you coming back. It stands out from other gleras, without taking the character in an extreme direction – it’s just quality fizz that’s absolutely mastered the balance.

Although this bottle is currently sold out online, you may be able to find it in your local Majestic store.

Sourced from mineral-rich clay soil hills, Alberto Nani’s prosecco is a vibrant, organic glera sparkler with a floral bouquet nose that’s taken over by ripe peach, crisp apple, and juicy pear in the mouth. Pineapple and cantaloupe bring a tropical punch but there’s also plenty of dry minerality. Combined with the beautiful golden hues, the intense effervescence and the creamy texture, this is a certified winner.

Forever catching our eyes, Freixenet has some tremendous releases that often represent some of the best-value fizz on supermarket shelves. The signature bottle is hard to resist, but here we have substance as well as style. Crafted from glera grapes in Veneto, this prosecco bursts with ripe lemon, a hint of green apple, and a kiss of honey. Light, crisp and endlessly drinkable, it’s perfect for having a special glass of something without spending big.

Everyone’s favourite talk show host has been behind some super wines for years now, and they just seem to keep getting better. Norton’s prosecco is extra-dry with 100 per cent glera grapes from Italy’s Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. Expect gentler, finer bubbles in the glass and a rising aroma of white flowers and acacia that’s particularly inviting. The first sip justifies all the awards it has won, as green and red apples star in a palate that stands out as sublimely light. The perfect kiss of sweetness lurks in the background, but it’s so crisp that finishing the bottle is dangerously easy.

Yes, it is that Dolly. Ms Parton’s prosecco was launched just this year, and features a pale straw-yellow hue and fine bubbles. The stone fruit aroma of peach and apricot is very seductive – on the palate, these fruit-forward notes evolve into creamy orchard fruits with acidic zing. There’s a lot going on but the balance ends up exactly where it needs to be: bright and lovable. Perfect for drinking, nine to five.

Wherever you stand on golden bottles, they certainly grab your attention. Far too often, though, the contents can’t back up this level of glamour, but that’s certainly not the case here. Produced from premium Valdobbiadene grapes, this prosecco delivers a luxurious blend of green apple, pear and citrus, with floral and sage notes. It’s a complete package – think fine bubbles, soft and refreshing mousse, and cleansing acidity. It’s a Drinks Business Prosecco Masters 2021 gold medal winner, and you can taste why.

Le Colture is a family winery slap bang in the middle of Italy’s prosecco country. Exclusive to Corney & Barrow, this Prosecco Superiore di Cartizze DOCG offers a masterclass in sparkling wine, with 500 years of winemaking expertise behind it. Known as the grand cru of prosecco, it’s almost champagne-like with elegant, perfumed aromas of orange blossom and rose, alongside apricot and peach flavours. Joining those rich and ripe fruits are savoury lees notes and a saline core. The harmony between everything is sublime, which is why this is a benchmark of premium prosecco.

This is another fruit-forward prosecco rosé that’s restrained with its sweetness. The glera and pinot noir blend brings delicate strawberry, raspberry and red cherry flavours to the fore, balancing fresh acidity, refreshing dryness and fruity sweetness in harmony. As the berries dissipate, a touch of grapefruit pith shows itself, too. It’s easy to love and would be ideal with antipasti or light dishes such as fish and tomato-based sauces.