The Best Champagne: How to Choose It by Budget and Taste
Looking for the best Champagne is a bit like looking for the best film: it all depends on the moment, your taste and your budget. Rather than a fixed ranking, here are some concrete pointers to help you find your best bottle.
The best Champagne depends on the occasion
Drinks with friends, a gift, a pairing with a fine meal or a wedding toast don’t call for the same bottle. A versatile non-vintage brut will work wonders as an aperitif, while a blanc de blancs or a vintage cuvée will shine at the table or when you want to mark the moment.
By budget
- €15–30 — the smart everyday choice. Many good grower Champagnes offer better value for money than the big-name brands. Look for the récoltant-manipulant (RM) mention on the label.
- €30–50 — the safe bet. This is the range for well-crafted bruts from the major houses and single-plot cuvées from growers.
- €50 and up — the exception. Prestige cuvées and vintages, best reserved for special occasions.
To make sense of these terms, our Champagne glossary explains the key vocabulary (brut, dosage, RM, vintage).
By style
| If you like… | Look for |
|---|---|
| Freshness, citrus notes | A blanc de blancs (100% chardonnay) |
| Structure, ripe fruit | A blanc de noirs or a pinot-noir-dominant blend |
| A rounder, indulgent style | A rosé, perfect as an aperitif and with dessert |
| Purity, no sugar | A brut nature (zero dosage) |
We go into these styles in more detail in our guides on rosé Champagne and on how Champagne is made.
Brand or grower?
The major houses guarantee a consistent style from one year to the next. Growers offer Champagnes more closely tied to a specific terroir, often in small production runs. Neither is inherently better: it comes down to personal taste. Browse our directory of houses to get a feel for the different styles.
Do you need a vintage?
Vintage Champagne comes from a single (good) year and ages for longer. If you want to give a memorable bottle — a birthday gift linked to a particular year, for instance — take a look at our Champagne vintages.
The right instinct
The best Champagne is the one you’ll enjoy drinking, served chilled (8–10°C) in a suitable glass. And the best way to find it is still to go and taste it on site: discover our visits and tastings in Reims and Épernay.
