The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

7 best proseccos to fizz up the festive season, taste tested

These are the best tried and tested prosecco and sparkling wines to see you through Christmas celebrations and ringing in the New Year

Siobhan Grogan
Monday 11 December 2023 12:16 GMT
<p>Prosecco comes down to the region, the grape used and how the bubbly gets its fizz   </p>

Prosecco comes down to the region, the grape used and how the bubbly gets its fizz

Our Top Picks

The UK simply can’t get enough prosecco. In fact, Britain is officially the world’s greatest consumer of the Italian sparkling wine, accounting for 24.5 per cent of all prosecco DOC exports, with a whopping 122.2 million bottles reaching our shores in 2021 alone. And with the festive season upon us, prosecco lovers are well and truly in their prime.

Our obsession for the tipple began in the years after the financial crisis as we Brits searched for a celebratory drink that was cheaper than champagne. As its relatively inexpensive and very drinkable cousin, Prosecco soon started appearing in supermarkets, bars and restaurants all over the country – and clearly we haven’t looked back since.

Like champagne though, prosecco must still follow certain EU rules to lay claim to the name. For example, it can only come from two regions in Italy – Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia – to carry a DOC label indicating its designated origin. And it must also be made with a minimum of 85 per cent glera grapes, although other grape varieties, such as pinot grigio or chardonnay, can make up the rest.

The way prosecco is produced does differ, however. While champagne gains its bubbles in the bottle itself, prosecco is fermented for a second time in stainless steel tanks to add the fizz before it’s bottled under pressure. This is a much quicker process, which helps keep the finished drink at a more reasonable price.

While quality can still vary wildly between bottles, expect prosecco to have a high acidity, light bubbles and pleasant, fruity flavours of apples, pear, melon or citrus. It’s usually a little sweeter than champagne and works perfectly as an aperitif, but can also pair well with foods such as antipasti, seafood and salty or acidic dishes. Better still, prosecco doesn’t benefit from ageing, so there’s no need to save it for a special occasion. Just pop the cork and enjoy.

How we tested

We chilled all the Proseccos we tested and then judged each one on its aromas, bubbles and flavours. We tested every bottle on its own and then with foods including salted nuts, charcuterie, fish dishes and even pizza to see which ones would make food sing and which were better served alone for a food-free toast.

We reviewed each bottle of fizz for aromas, bubbles and flavours

The best proseccos for 2023 are:

  • Best prosecco overall – Tesco finest prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG: £9.50, Tesco.com
  • Best budget buy prosecco – I heart prosecco: £7.50, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best prosecco bottle to show off – Freixenet prosecco DOC: £9, Morrisons.com
  • Best prosecco to buy as a gift – Il Colmo prosecco brut NV: £14.99, Virginwines.co.uk
  • Best vegan-friendly prosecco – Adnams prosecco DOC: £9.99, Adnams.co.uk

Tesco finest prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG

best prosecco supermarket prosecco sainsburys 2023
  • Best: Prosecco overall
  • ABV: 11.5%
  • Size: 75cl
  • Why we love it
    • Affordable
    • Great versatility

We were seriously impressed by this supermarket find, which is the most premium style of DOCG prosecco, yet still costs just less than a tenner. It’s made with top-quality glera grapes sourced from the best vineyards on the Valdobbiadene Hill, so you know you’re guaranteed a real stand-out sparkling.

Deliciously dry, it’s just complex enough, with flavours of white blossom, peach and pear, and a lingering note of elderflower on the nose. It’s quite acidic too, so works especially well with food, including light fruity desserts and fattier foods. Try it with a slap-up meal of fish and chips and you’ll never look back.

  1. £9 from Tesco.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

I heart prosecco

best prosecco supermarket prosecco sainsburys 2023
  • Best: Budget prosecco
  • ABV: 11%
  • Size: 75cl
  • Why we love it
    • Very affordable
    • You can buy a rosé version

Another wonderfully priced prosecco perfect for pepping up a boring weekend, this is a brilliantly drinkable bubbly you’ll buy again and again.

A no-fuss fizz that ticks all the right sparkling boxes, it’s crisp and light, with delicate floral aromas on the nose. There are plenty of apple and peach flavours in the glass, with a smooth sweetness that makes this a great prosecco to serve with food, including a gently spicy Thai curry or even a selection of Italian cheeses. There’s also a great rosé version if you prefer the pink stuff.

  1. £7 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

Il Colmo prosecco brut NV

best prosecco supermarket prosecco sainsburys 2023
  • Best: Prosecco to buy as a gift
  • ABV: 11.5%
  • Size: 75cl
  • Why we love it
    • Makes a great gift

Prosecco makes a great present when you’re not sure what to buy or what the recipient likes. After all, who doesn’t like a bottle of bubbly? Show them you’ve made a little more effort than grabbing one off the supermarket shelf by investing in this superb sparkling made exclusively for Virgin Wines. We loved the smart, modern bottle that looks suitably expensive, so they’ll know this is a cut above the average prosecco.

Made by Umberto Menini, who has worked in the wine industry for over 40 years, it’s a fresh, fruity drop with an emphasis on apples and pears, and a tangy twist of lemon on the palate. We think anyone would love to receive this.

Back to top

La Gioiosa prosecco brut

best prosecco supermarket prosecco sainsburys 2023
  • Best: Prosecco for seafood
  • ABV: 11%
  • Size: 75cl
  • Why we love it
    • Fresh, summery taste

Pretend you’re somewhere sunny and serve up this refined prosecco with a platter of oysters, mussels and prawns for the escapist lunch of dreams. Fittingly, it’s even named “the joyful”, after the motto “marca gioiosa et amorosa” (the joyful and loving place) locals use to describe the province of Treviso. Drinking this should certainly put a smile on your face, too.

A pale straw colour, it looks more like champagne in the glass and goes down just as easily. There are hints of apple and lemon on the nose, while floral notes come through on the palate to make this a fresh and well-balanced prosecco with a surprisingly full body.

  1. £10 from Tesco.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Adnams prosecco DOC

best prosecco supermarket prosecco sainsburys 2023
  • Best: Vegan-friendly prosecco
  • ABV: 11%
  • Size: 75cl
  • Why we love it
    • Vegan friendly

Own-brand names from Southwold wine merchant Adnams are a reliable go-to, so we expected good things from the prosecco its selected to call its own. Thankfully, we weren’t disappointed – this vegan fizz is great for adding a touch of sparkle to weekend drinks with friends.

Made with glera grapes from the Veneto region, this prosecco explodes with orchard aromas on opening, with the rich scent of apples mixed with floral notes. In the glass, you can expect lively bubbles, flavours of peach and pear, and a fresh finish that will keep you going back for more.

  1. £9 from Adnams.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

Mionetto orange label prosecco

best prosecco supermarket prosecco sainsburys 2023
  • Best: Prosecco for cocktails
  • ABV: 11%
  • Size: 75cl
  • Why we love it
    • Perfect for Christmas mimosas

Who doesn’t love a sparkling cocktail? Our national love affair with fruity fizz-based drinks, such as mimosas, bellinis and the Aperol spritz, shows no sign of fading, so it’s always worth having a bottle of prosecco on hand to whip one up.

This is the perfect bottle for the job. Crisp and nicely dry, it has fine bubbles and a good but not overpowering acidity, which means it will work well with fruit mixers and liqueurs in cocktails. Flavours are delicious but won’t dominate, with a blend of apple, pear and lemon, with yeast undertones. Bring this to a party and there’ll be no complaints.

Back to top

Freixenet prosecco DOC

best prosecco supermarket prosecco sainsburys 2023
  • Best: Prosecco bottle to show off
  • ABV: 11%
  • Size: 75cl
  • Why we love it
    • Beautifully designed bottle

Add a bit of razzle-dazzle to your prosecco drinking with this gorgeous cut-glass bottle, which really stands out from the rest. Another great one for gifting, it’s a golden colour in the glass and a little lighter and less sweet than some of the others we tested, so a good choice if you prefer drier wine.

Made of only glera grapes, it really brings the sunshine too, with zingy aromas of lemon and tropical grapefruit. Apricot, peach and pear come through on the palate, making it perfect to drink on its own or with light, fruity desserts.

  1. £9 from Morrisons.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Proseccos FAQs

What do the different labels mean?

Read the labels carefully – all prosecco should be made largely from the glera grape and hail from certain areas of the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions of northern Italy.

  • DOC – which stands for “designation of controlled origin”, denotes standard prosecco. It’s readily identifiable from the blue stripe on the label at the top, and accounts for the vast bulk of prosecco made.
  • DOCG – stands for “designation of controlled origin and guaranteed”. This is more superior and is indicated by the brown label on the top of a bottle and can only be made in the Treviso province of Veneto on the hills between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.
  • Spumante – tells you it’s the fizziest of prosecco. But remember that other Italian sparkling wines, made from different grapes in different areas, can also be labelled vino spumante without being prosecco – and frizzante means the fizz is less intense.

The verdict: Proseccos

There are so many great proseccos out there, it’s easy to be spoilt for choice. However, if you want to try a superior DOCG without paying over the odds, choose Tesco finest prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG for its clean acidity, medium finish and fruity flavours.

Not a big wine drinker? Check out the best beer and cider subscription boxes that’ll deliver to your door

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
£100 off all bookings over £1000 - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
20% off everything with this ASOS app discount code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
20% off everything with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
15% of all orders with The Perfume Shop birthday discount
Domino's Voucher Code
Get 40% off mains, sides, and desserts - Domino's voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in