From Patsy and Eddie's Bolli fridge to @ChampagnePapi, Gemma Collins' love of Prosecco to Nicki Minaj's own brand of Moscato and 2022's Negroni Sbagliato with prosecco in it - bubbly holds a special place in pop culture, and our hearts. It's the drink of choice when celebrating or commiserating, a way to mark an occasion with loved ones, and often a sign of a very fun night.
In the name of important service journalism, our latest blind taste test is all about festive fizz. We asked a panel of tasters to get slightly tipsy on a variety of sparkling wines, sharing their honest and immediate thoughts and ranking them from best to worst - including Champagne, Prosecco and trendy Pet Nat.
Taste is subjective, of course, but in this case we found that the stereotype that your palette gets more 'sophisticated' as you get older to be somewhat true, while other results also made some of our blind tasters question all they thought they knew about their love of fancy Champagne.
Who was the winner? Raise a glass, and keep scrolling to read the results, and see what bubbles took the top (shelf) prize.
Meet the judging panel
Lyric, 22, Stuff culture reporter: “For a special occasion I’d drink a G&T. I never drink Champagne… I’m not classy!”
Sarah, 51, manager: “I prefer to drink bubbles to celebrate. French if possible. Because it’s fun… and less of a hangover.”
Anna, 42, graphic designer and art director: “Bubbles help add to the festive vibe, it marks the occasion.”
Jen, 21, producer: “My preferred bubbles would be prosecco – I drink Champagne once in a blue moon. When I’m celebrating, I’d drink a rosé or cheeky cider.”
Lara, 28, Ensemble publishing co-ordinator and makeup artist: “I’d drink Champagne less than a dozen times a year. I prefer a prosecco, or more recently, Pet Nat.”
Frances, 44, Sunday and Your Weekend magazine editor: “Bubbles or beer would be my celebratory drink of choice.”
Karanama, 22, reporter: “I almost never drink Champagne.”
Zoe, 38, Ensemble co-founder: “I’ve worked in fashion for 15+ years so I’ve basically been raised on free bubbles and Champagne at work events and fashion week…”
Sarah S, “Gen X”, art director: “Bubbles are so uplifting – I’d drink it everyday if I could. My preferred bubbles would be vintage Mumm."
The method
To keep it fair, and to stop us from immediately giving a positive review to the fanciest bottles, this tasting was done ‘blind’ – with a small pour of each wine added to single (compostable) glasses.
We tested nine different bubbly alcoholic drinks, with a variety of types, brands and price ranges including prosecco, Champagne, Pet Nat and more. The offering ranged from widely available in supermarkets to more niche, and we also deliberately kept it to wines under $100 (because we’re not rich).
We had some salt & vinegar and ready salted chips on hand, which some ate in between sips to ‘clear’ their palettes.
Disclosure: We paid for a selection of these wines. The Perrier-Jouët, G.H.Mumm Huia, Rosie and The Uncommon wines were gifted to us, either for the purpose of this tasting or prior.
The results (from worst to best)
Lindauer Special Reserve Cuvée Riche, $17
“Very bubbly. Sharp bubbles and a frothy finish. Pretty nasty. Definitely sweet. Reminds me of Bernadino.” - Lara
“Way too sweet. It’s very tangy and sticky.” - Anna
“Faintly floral, like your nan’s old perfume. Initial impression: there’s some potential here…” - Lyric
“Candy floss carnival. Lollies of the valley. I can imagine myself drinking it at a kid’s birthday party.” - Frances
“Smells like lilacs. Very sweet. Would have to be desperate to finish this one. This reminds me of my youth. On the field at lunchtime with a water bottle.” - Sarah
“Has a thin but fizzy texture. Too sweet for me.” - Sarah S
“Smells lovely, reminds me of a summer’s evening on the beach. It’s super smooth to drink. Not as sour as the first one. Much more palatable for a non-bubbles drinker.” - Karanama
“Smells weirdly like communion. For some reason, I can imagine drinking it at a church function.” - Jen
“Fruity, very sparkly, YUCK. This one is Lindauer?” - Zoe
Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne, $65
“I’m going to be bold and say French? It has a gentle, rolling, sophisticated taste. I can picture myself drinking it at an art gallery opening in uncomfortable heels. I think I’ve totally nailed this as genuine and therefore will be mortified when it turns out it’s Bernardino...” - Frances
“Smells like Pamol. It has a grainy texture, and on first taste is almost quite bitter. Tastes like Pamol, without the strong fruit taste. But at this point I’m tipsy so my imagination is a bit off.” - Karanama
“A bit flatter than the previous ones. It’s yum! Would drink again.” - Sarah
“Smells like a hangover. Hard to stomach.” - Lyric
“Doesn’t linger. Short lived and dry.” - Anna
The Uncommon Bubbly Rosé Wine, $30 for four
“Very pink, and reminiscent of lollies. I feel like it would give me a bad bubbles headache…” - Zoe
“It’s much less sweet than expected. I quite like - maybe a bit more than quite. I usually avoid sparkling rose, but would not avoid this [after seeing the can].” - Sarah
“Floral - my favourite to smell. It’s smooth and very floral. Dry, delicious taste.” - Anna
“Smells like hand soap in a fancy hotel bathroom. A delicate texture. Initial impression: strawberry tarts, sundown on rocky terrain. It’s flirty and fruity.” - Frances
“Rosé actually terrifies me… Fruity and romantic smell. The taste is not good, which sucks because I love the smell. It would be a canned rose, wouldn’t it… [after seeing the can]” - Lyric
Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut Champagne, $75
“Beautiful texture, velvety bubbles. Tastes like the good stuff! But it needs to be very cold, I think. It reminds me of celebrating – I can imagine drinking this on a yacht.” - Lara
“Smells toasty. It is bubbly as. My initial impression is that it’s yum, comforting. Tastes like a warm sunset on a beach. I can imagine drinking this after a break up. As an art nouveau devotee, j’adore [after seeing the bottle].” - Frances
“Undefinable smell. Fizzy texture. Urine-y colour. Tastes fruity - then dry - followed by a metallic aftertaste.” - Sarah
“Smells like fish, not very nice. It does not go down very well. I didn’t even want to try this, smells weird. Where can I imagine drinking this? Never.” - Karanama
“The smell is quite overpowering - strong apple crush. Very smooth texture. I can feel the bubbles in every sip. Smell was a bit too much and made me unsure. Tastes like something my grandmother would bring out.” - Jen
“Full and fruity smell, and tastes quite sweet and sugary. This would be bottom shelf.” - Zoe
“Vaguely citrus, alkaline taste.” - Sarah S
GN Prosecco, $20
“Feels a bit flat, like a mild sparkling water. Tastes like sparkling water, not bad though! A bit too bland for me.” - Lara
“Quite sweet, boozy. Icky… I could imagine drinking this at a cheap bar, by the glass.” - Anna
“Smells like… cheap piss. It’s thick and bubbly. Reminds me of the cheap shit I drank in year 13. Graham! You can do better than that! [after seeing bottle]” - Lyric
“Grainy texture. Dry! Then lingering sweetness. The taste is subtly yeasty. Tastes like a potential hangover. I could imagine drinking it in the afternoon on the deck with neighbours.” - Sarah
“Overly sour, hits the sinuses well. It’s quite a fruity texture – reminds me of my old job as a hospo worker and spilling this all over me… I’m not a bubbles drinker, so it hit different.” - Karanama
“It tastes juicy, not super sweet. It reminds me of day drinking in the sun with my flatmates.” - Jen
THIRD EQUAL: Rosie Prosecco, $19
“Has a very fruity and sweet smell, and a good fizz. Very clear colour. It doesn’t taste as fruity as it smells, quite nice?” - Zoe
“Fresh and fun. It’s sweet, but not too overpowering.” - Jen
“The smell and taste is like body odour; never tasted something like it.” - Karanama
“Super bubbly texture. Too floral for me, needs more acid. This one had the best texture, but that’s all.” - Sarah
“Fragrant. A tough bubble, suspiciously so.” - Frances
“I could have a fun time with this one. It’s nicely fruity.” - Lyric
“Dry.” - Anna
“Smells a bit cheap? I’m no wine expert, but I think this is dry? And has a nice amount of bubbles - very fizzy. It tastes better than it smells. Crisp and apple-like.” - Lara
THIRD EQUAL: Huia Blanc de Blancs 2018, $45
“I’m confused by this one. I didn’t love it at first sip, but it gets better as you drink it. And it was the only one I finished! I can see myself drinking it at a fashion event…” - Zoe
“Smells like the bonbon factory - beauty products - sweet, almost caramelly. Faint Russian fudge taste.” - Jen
“No smell or taste - like sour water. It’s like water but I keep pulling a sour face…” Karanama
“The smell is quite minerally. A bit flat in texture - but that’s sort of refreshing by this point. I can picture drinking this with a mid morning mimosa.” - Sarah
“Colour me annoying, but white winey chemical. Big bubbles that flatten on the tongue. I can imagine drinking this at a work do.” - Frances
“Vomit potential. But a light, smooth, fresh texture. I wanted this to win because it’s so smooth, but the taste is a let down.” - Lyric
“Flatter bubbles than the others, kind of creamy?” - Lara
RUNNER UP: Das Juice 2021 Pet Nat, $30, from Everyday Wine
“Smells slightly salty, or earthy. It’s smooth, with a cloudy colour. I would drink lots of this! It reminds me of a natural wine, and I can picture myself drinking it in my backyard, or at a restaurant like Omni.” - Zoe
“Smells like urine. Initial impression: Disgusting. Sorry if this is the Champagne. I can’t imagine drinking this anywhere.” - Karanama
“No bubbles, smooth. This smells expensive.” - Jen
“A fruity floral smell. It looks organic. It tastes better than expected, but slightly bitter after taste.” - Sarah
“Smells like a muddy soccer field, in a good way. It’s dry AF. Extremely enjoyable.” - Frances
“Smells lowkey. The texture is light and fresh. This is my fifth drink, and probably the best so far. It’s kinda giving nothing, which is good.” - Lyric
“Smells like sweaty socks, mushrooms. It’s definitely organic…” - Anna
“A bit fishy, pescatarian smelling, but a nice smooth fizz. Probably a natural one? Gross taste. Definitely a bad Pet Nat.” - Lara
“Has a mild smell and cloudy texture. Initial impression: soupy… I dislike it intensely! Reminds me of hippy camp.” - Sarah S
THE WINNER: G.H.Mumm Champagne Brut Grand Cordon, $60
“A nice smell and pleasing gold colour. I like it.” - Sarah S
“Very sweet and sugary. I could picture myself drinking this at a fashion party, with a bad hangover the next day.” - Zoe
“Strong, fruity smell, slightly headache inducing. Sour yet sweet taste - like so sweet, it’s sour. Tastes like perfume on skin.” - Jen
“Smells like a fancy dinner somewhere in East Auckland. Tastes very good - was a relief after number 5 [Ed's Note: number 5 was Das Juice]. Yum as, I’d probably neck this.” - Karanama
“Biscuity smell, and evenly bubbled. It’s familiar tasting. I can imagine it at night with a toast.” - Sarah
“A subtly herbaceous smell. It’s a ‘smack you in the face’ bubbles. A solid performer. A celebration wine.” - Frances
“Smells like bad news. I’m scared of what this would turn me into after a few glasses. I can picture myself drinking this while crying to Taylor Swift.” - Lyric
“Creamier than the others. Absolutely delish! I can imagine drinking this with my dad at a restaurant, very happy.” - Anna
“Crisp, smooth. Big bubbles - clear and fancy looking. I like this one. On second sip, it’s a bit sweet. I think I’ve had this before…” - Lara
