10 Champagnes That Won't Break The Bank

I'm a firm believer that wine drinkers don't consume Champagne or sparklers from other regions often enough. That said, this is the time of year that people bust open some bubbly, typically on Christmas or New Year's Eve.

Perhaps if everyone knew that nice, well-made, distinctive, and delicious Champagne can be bought without the possibility of endangering your mortgage or rent payment, they would drink it more often.

If you've got a reason to celebrate, why let the price of a bottle keep you from doing so? Everyone should be able to enjoy the bubbly whenever he or she wants to. Luckily, there are plenty of reasonably priced bottles available that allow you to do so.

Here are 10 Champagnes that you could celebrate with, serve at your holiday parties, or drink with a meal that won't destroy your budget. Read on for budget-friendly bubbly, and get ready to pop those corks.

The percentage of chardonnay is higher than average (50 percent) in this selection, which lends to an inherent sense of lightness. It shows a beautiful pale straw color in the glass.

A touch of apricot underscores the nose, which leads with lemon ice. The palate is light and mellifluous with delicate layers of peach and hints of yellow apple. The long finish is soft and lush. If you want to sip your Champagne alone, this is a perfect choice.

This is aged in the company's cellars for over two years prior to release. I've been drinking this offering for over a decade and it never fails to impress.

White fruit and yellow melon aromas lead the nose. Fresh fruit flavors, crème fraîche, and bits of vanilla fill the palate. It all continues through the finish along with bits of pear and spice.

This selection is 75 percent pinot meunier, with the balance made up of pinot noir. There's a nice heft to this wine which makes it great with an extremely wide array of foods.

Raspberry aromas and bits of citrus light up the impressive nose here. The firm palate shows berry fruit flavors, bits of brioche and spice notes, too.

The finish is long and persistent. If you need to convince someone to drink Champagne with dinner, start here.

This wine is a blend of equal parts chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier. A potpourri of aromas leap from the nose of this non-vintage brut; candied ginger, clover honey, almond, hazelnut, citrus, and a hint of yeast are the most prominent.

The full-flavored palate is loaded with character and flavors such as lemongrass, hints of peach, and a nice wallop of spices.

The crisp finish is layered and gentle with light yeast notes and continued spice that linger persistently. This is a classic brut.

This Champagne was composed from a blend of pinot noir (40 percent), pinot meunier (40 percent), and chardonnay (20 percent). After fermentation and racking, more than 300 wines are tasted to assemble this blend.

Aromas of apple, ginger, and lemon are all part of the gently expressive nose. Orchard fruit flavors are dominant on the palate along with a core of accompanying spices. Bits of brioche and biscuit are present on the lengthy finish along with lemon zest and white pepper spice. This is a terrific example of brut that shines year after year.

GH Mumm is one of the standard bearers of Champagne. There's a reason for that: They make some banging bubbly. This entry level offering is a fantastic value.

A host of stone and tropical fruit aromas inform the welcoming and lovely nose. Those characteristics carry through the palate which is loaded with fresh fruit flavors and bits of spice.

The finish is light and crisp with zippy acid. It would be a great choice with light appetizers.
 

This NV Champagne is composed of pinot noir (60 percent), pinot meunier (25 percent), and chardonnay (15 percent). I love the bits of linseed oil and citrus on the nose almost as much as the nuttiness and wisps of flaky biscuit on the palate.

The finish is crisp and fresh with continued fruit and bits of spice. This tastes far more expensive than the price tag indicates.

Is this the most ubiquitous Champagne on U.S. shelves? It might be, or maybe, the iconic packaging makes it seem that way.

There's something to be said for being able to find a good product easily. Such is the case here. It's made up of 50 percent or more pinot noir, insuring a certain structure and firmness. Anjou pear and white peach aromas fill the nose.

Bits of flaky biscuit join a host of fruit notes on the substantial palate. White pepper, savory scone, and more are part of the long finish. This is a great multipurpose Champagne you can welcome people with, celebrate with, or drink all meal long.

De Venoge has been producing this cuvée since 1864. Red cherry and a bit of biscuit light up the nose. Toasted hazelnut, red berry fruits, and hints of tropical fruits are evident on the bright and somewhat juicy palate. Those characteristics are all in play through the above average finish which has nice heft.

This is a very approachable selection that will appeal to those who don't drink Champagne regularly, but with enough depth for those who do. Mark this selection "hard to put down."

Roughly half is composed of pinot noir, some of which is red wine. 30 to 40 percent is pinot meunier. The balance is chardonnay.

This rosé has a particularly gorgeous pink hue that really appeals the moment you pour it. A bouquet of fresh, red berry fruits lights up the stunning nose. The palate is similarly loaded with a mélange of red berry flavors of varying stripes.

Bits of black pepper and vanilla lead the finish, which is long and refreshing. This is another offering that will pair beautifully with a wide array of foods.