Aldi launches its first English sparkling wine…and at £14.99 costs more than its champagne
The top class plonk is on offer for a limited time only
BUDGET supermarket Aldi has launched its first ever English sparkling wine - and believes it's so good that it's selling it for more than its Champagne.
With English wine now winning awards from French experts and triumphing in blind taste tests, Aldi is making its first foray into the market.
It has announced it is teaming up with award-winning Denbies Wine Estate, in Dorking, Surrey to exclusively develop the bottle of plonk, named Chalk Valley Quality English Sparkling Wine, which will go on sale for £14.99 - making it one of the most expensive bottles the chain has in stock.
It is hoped the move will further boost the growing English wine industry as Chalk Valley goes head-to-head against Proseccos and Champagnes.
But the premium sparkler, described as having "a creamy texture, long, zesty finish, and finely balanced acidity", is significantly pricier than the French equivalent.
Denbies' offering will sit alongside Aldi's popular bottles like the International Wine Challenge award winning Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut, which costs £10.99, and its Cremant du Jura, which costs£7.49.
A recent survey found 11 per cent of adults in the UK now believe English wine is the best in the world.
Denbies describes Chalk Valley as "a high quality, dry and refreshing wine full of citrus aromas, and with a hint of flora and brioche, thanks to a higher percentage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes than some English sparklers".
Its wine now competes on an international level, including multiple gold awards for sparkling wine production, the first ever gold for an English rose wine and most recently an international gold for Denbies Noble Harvest Dessert wine.
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The deal with Aldi is an undoubted boost to the Denbies Estate, with the supermarket selling more than five million bottles of fizz in 2015.
The Denbies Estate has been family owned and run since 1984 with the first vineyard planted in 1986.
Since then, it has become one of the largest wine producers in the UK, winning multiple international awards including for sparkling wine production.
The vineyards of Denbies Wine Estate make up a total of 265 acres - three times the size of any other in the United Kingdom.
John Worontschak, Head Winemaker at Denbies Wine Estate, said: "We've been making the finest English wines on the Denbies Estate since 1986.
"We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work alongside Aldi to create an exclusive blend, making the very best of English sparkling wine accessible to all."
Tony Baines, joint Managing Director of Corporate Buying at the supermarket, added: "The English sparkling wine market is booming as more and more Brits are recognising it as a world class product, worthy of going head to head with the finest Proseccos and Champagnes.
"Our buying teams have listened to this increasing consumer demand and we are proud to introduce the top quality 'Chalk Valley Quality English Sparkling Wine' to wine drinkers nationwide."
Denbies Chalk Valley Quality English Sparkling Wine will be available online at and in selected stores from this Sunday while stocks last.
English sparkling wine in other supermarkets sells for as much as £32.99.
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