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7 Alternatives to Top Champagne Brands

Written by Madeline Puckette

Champagne is one of the few wines that can be enjoyed any time of day or night. The only problem with top Champagne brands is the price.

Fortunately, you can find a great alternative to top Champagne brands that are much more wallet-friendly.

Here are 7 top Champagne brands along with a few alternatives for those who like to go off the beaten path.

top champagne brands most searched

Top Champagne Brands

How much should I expect to spend on Champagne Brands?

Champagne is a protected designation of origin for sparkling wine from the Champagne region in France. Because of demand for these wines, expect to pay $40 for Champagne. What’s surprising is great sparkling wines from other regions are often much less!


dom perignon champagne brand
Dom Perignon is the first sparkling Champagne ever produced. Today, LVMH is the current owner.

Dom Perignon Champagne

Dom Perignon is a prestige cuvée owned by Moët & Chandon (part of the luxury conglomerate that owns Louis Vuitton.) Dom Perignon ages at least 7 years before release to ensure maximum deliciousness.

Dom isn’t cheap, but it’s not the most expensive Champagne brand at around $170 a bottle.

On a budget?

J. Laurens Crémant de Limoux Brut ($15)
If you’re looking for French fine sparkling wines, look into Crémant. Regions outside of Champagne make sparkling wine in France such as Cremant de Limoux or Cremant de Bourgogne. For example, we find that producers like Lucien Albrecht, J. Laurens, and Martinolles offer great value.


veuve clicquot champagne brand
A woman famously started the Veuve Clicquot Champagne house.

Veuve Clicquot Champagne

Veuve Clicquot’s yellow label is perhaps the most well-marketed Champagne on the face of the planet. The wine is loved for its rich and toasty flavors.

On a budget?

Roederer Estate “Anderson Valley” Brut Sparkling Wine ($25)

If you’re looking for fine bubble finesse and creaminess, check out Californian sparkling wines such as Roederer Estate’s “Anderson Valley” Brut. Many of these Californian wines are remarkably similar in look, purpose, and feel.


armand de brignac ace of spades champagne brand
Armand de Brignac’s “Ace of Spades” quickly rose to fame after the rapper, Jay-Z, repped it.

Ace of Spades Champagne

It’s easy to disregard Jay-Z’s hyped Champagne brand, but Armand de Brignac is quite well made. It has creamy bubble finesse and almond-orange notes.

On a budget?

Ruinart “Blanc de Blancs” Brut Champagne ($70)

Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. Ruinart is a prestige Champagne, but at $70 a bottle, it’s less than half the price.


bollinger champagne brand
Bollinger is James Bond’s bubbly of choice.

Bollinger Champagne

Bollinger is produced with a blend made primarily of Pinot Noir but as a white wine. White cherry and smoke flavors are more common in wines made with red grapes.

On a budget?

Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine ($35)

Another fine find from California, Schramsberg finds their Pinot Noir in Alexander Valley and Carneros, CA. It’s slightly fruitier than Bollinger but with the same smoky undertone.


louis roederer cristal champagne brand
First served in the early 1800s, Cristal featured at a king’s feast!

Louis Roederer’s “Cristal” Champagne

Cristal has a golden hue and honeyed nuances that carry on in a lingering finish. Cristal is a prestige vintage Champagne by family-owned Louis Roederer.

On a budget?

Bellavista Brut Franciacorta ($35)

Franciacorta is Italy’s answer to Champagne. While slightly less golden-colored than Cristal and more simple on the palate, the style is just as rich!


perrier jouet champagne brand
Perrier Jouet

Perrier Jouet Champagne

Perrier Jouet is offered at a value price for most Champagne at around $40 a bottle. Perrier Jouet tastes of pear and a touch of creaminess. It’s usually slightly sweeter than Veuve Clicquot.

On a budget?

Drusian Extra Dry Prosecco di Valdobbiadene ($15)

Prosecco has come a long way from being a headache-giving sweet wine. This Valdobbiadene Prosecco hints at sweetness while maintaining a clean, dry flavor.


krug champagne brands
Krug Champagne brand

Krug Champagne

The process of making both Krug and Salon is a serious time investment. Aging Champagne imparts more tertiary aromas of croissants and frangipane.

On a budget?

Ferrari Perle Nero Trento ($100)

There is a special sparkling wine region found in Trentino-Alto Adige, turning out incredible sparkling wines. It’s called Trento DOC. Ferrari is the most famous producer here who ages their wines for extended periods, but there are many more worth investigating!


best Champagne on Any Budget

More Choices!

Need to load up on bubbly, but clueless about cost and quality? Not to worry! Here’s a list of bubbly wines for every budget.

See List


Champagne wine map by Wine Folly - detailed

Explore Champagne!

Learn more about the Champagne region and its best wines.

Learn More

Written byMadeline Puckette

James Beard Award-winning author and Wine Communicator of the Year. I co-founded Wine Folly to help people learn about wine. @WineFolly


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