Best Champagne Under $30 2020: Review & Buyer’s Guide

Champagne is an ever-green choice to kick off a good time. Whether it’s a big blow out or a quiet, intimate dinner, you can never go wrong with champagne. However, sometimes you have to mind the amount of money you end up spending on liquor. From Veuve Clicquot to Dom Perignon, Pinot Noir to Chardonnay, a good bottle of champagne will not let you down.

While it’s great that you want to have extravagant and heavily-priced champagne for special occasions, it’s not a feasible option in case you have more regular use of it. For example, you can’t buy an Armand de Brignac BrutGold for each meal you wish to have champagne with. Hence, it’s good to have a few options in the cellar that aren’t so luxurious.

Moreover, it proves to be a great backup if you’re in a bind. Let’s say you have guests coming over, and you didn’t get a prior notice so you couldn’t prepare. In such a case, a few mid-priced bottles at home will save you the hassle of running to the store and buying an expensive one.

With that in mind, we made a list in this article of the best champagne under $30. Our buying guide will help you choose a proper bottle of champagne without burning a hole in your pocket. If you enjoy champagne and like to kick back with a glass now and then, this is the perfect list for you. It includes some of the most economical options at Vivino, one of the world’s largest wine communities.

But before we begin, let’s have a look at how a $30 champagne differs from premium champagne that may be anywhere between $100 to $500.

Difference Between A $30 Champagne And Premium Champagne

The first thing you need to know is that the price of champagne doesn’t need to be a deciding factor when it comes to buying liquor. A $25 bottle of champagne might taste just as well as a $250 bottle of champagne. However, the taste is not the only thing a bottle of champagne needs to account for.

That being said, several things affect the price of a bottle of champagne. Let’s have a look at some factors before you decide on a bottle of champagne that’s right for you.

1. Time of Year

If you’ve bought enough champagne bottles in your life, you would know that the demand increases during festivals like New Year, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. This should lead to a hike in the prices of champagne. However, something that we call “countercyclical pricing” takes place during the peak period.

As champagne’s demand rises during festivals, or say the wedding season, it turns into a massive market for wine houses. The prices go down because people are more willing to let go of buying champagne in bulk if it’s too expensive.

This results in a reduction of rates. Why? Because this is the season when wine houses get the most traffic. Decreasing the costs during this time helps them make sales and cover up for any losses they might have faced during the offseason.

2. Age

When it comes to champagne, the aging process during the second-fermentation procedure is a significant factor. For champagne, this process takes place after the liquor is bottled. The longer it’s bottled, the better. A comparatively older bottle of champagne will be pricier than one that hasn’t been bottled for a notable amount of time.

However, some people prefer a newer bottle of champagne because it fits their needs, and that may be palette specific.

3. Vintage Or Non-vintage

When a good grape season rolls around and produces the most exceptional quality of grapes, it gives birth to a Vintage bottle of champagne. During an excellent grapes season, champagne makers use only those grapes to ferment champagne. Champagne and sparkling wines made out of such grapes are known as “vintage”, or millésimé in French.

More often than not, champagne is created with the help of grape juices produced in various seasons. A bottle of champagne made with year-round grape juice is called non-vintage. Before you buy champagne, make sure that you check for this because a vintage bottle will inevitably be more expensive.

It’s important to note that the number of additives, alcohol percentage, and sugar content or the fermentation process wouldn’t matter here. The price, in this case, solely depends on whether it’s a vintage bottle or not.

4. Champagne House

Some champagne houses have been around for a long time and know the lay of the land like the back of their hand. This gives them the advantage of having trusted customers who wouldn’t mind paying a few dollars extra for a bottle of champagne.

Such champagne houses get away with making pricier options because of their stature and liquor business experience. It gives them a certain authenticity that you wouldn’t find at a champagne house that’s only been around for a short time.

Moreover, some champagne houses choose to grow their own grapes. This is also a leading factor in the retail price of a bottle because of the added manual labor it requires.

Not to mention, the resources employed in farming also take a hefty amount out of their pockets. They are certainly less inclined to bear the cost of growing grapes, so they increase the prices.

5. Grape Quality

This is one of the most important factors when it comes to the pricing of champagne. Grape farmers growing fresh quality grapes for a long time are high in demand for champagne makers. This leads to a surge in their prices, and that can affect the champagne price.

Additionally, if a champagne maker goes with the cheaper option for grapes to save monetary resources, then the champagne will be more economical.

6. Packaging

Last but not least, the packaging of the bottle. Some brands decide to go with a more polished packaging method, making the champagne seem extraordinarily eye-catching. Why? Simply because shiny things sell faster than dull ones. This, in turn, increases the cost of production, and hence, the retail market price.

For example, some bottles of champagne come with an ice bucket, so you’ll clearly end up paying more than the standard price.

Now that we have an understanding of the key difference between a cheap and expensive bottle of champagne let’s move on to the next step: picking out the best champagne under $30. With these choices, you won’t have to look elsewhere.

Top 5 Best Champagne Under $30 2020

1. Vollereaux Brut Reserve

The Brut Reserve Champagne by Vollereaux offers a light toast on the nose. Coming from the region of Champagne, France, the Brut Reserve goes well with most meals. The mouth comes off with a hint of lemon juice, with flares of white peach and smoke before finally finishing with a trace of quinine and charming toast notes.

This champagne by Vollereaux is accompanied by bright flavors and a buzz finish. The Brut Reserve is adorned with green apple and lemon flavors. It has a pale golden shine. Some reviewers say that it leaves a creamy aftertaste. With a mouthy taste guarded by chalky flavors and apricot notes, citrus, honey on toast, it would be an elegant addition to your dinner table.

This French Champagne goes well with Pork, Rich Fish such as salmon and tuna, shellfish, mild and soft cheese. It has 12% alcohol content, and it’s made with Chardonnay. The Brut Reserve by Vollereaux is one of the top 11 percent wines from Champagne, France. At $29.99, this bottle is one of the best champagne under $30.

2. Breton & Fils Tradition Brut Champagne

The Tradition Brut Champagne by Breton & Fils is a bottle of estate-grown champagne, with a flavor profile of citrus fruits and aging notes of toast, biscuits, and nuts. This French Champagne is sure to fill your mouth with a fizzy and fruity aftertaste. Grown in the Champagne region of France, the Tradition Brut Champagne was made to win hearts from 2020-2023.

This French Champagne has 12.5% alcohol content, and it’s made with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. It’s embellished with golden bubbles and a nutty flavor. With subtle flavors of red berries, red apples, plums, candied ginger, cream, and toast, the Tradition Brut doesn’t stand to disappoint. It’s being sold in the US for the first time, and with 37% off, there will be no better time for you to get this french champagne.

A reviewer described the quality of this champagne as “insane”. According to Vivino, this champagne by Breton & Fils is among the top five wines in the world. At $24.99, it’s nothing less than a steal! The Tradition Brut Champagne goes well with Pork, Rich Fish, Shellfish, mild and soft cheese.

3. Barefoot Bubbly Limited Edition Pride Brut Rose

The Bubbly Pride is a limited edition Brut Rose by Barefoot. Accompanied by the flavorful profile of red raspberries, sweet cherries, and pomegranate, the Bubbly Brut Rose makes for a fine companion to celebrate Pride with. It’s coated with tips of nectarine, red apple, and zesty citrus.

This Burt Rose goes beautifully with everything from fresh fruits to takeout. Now it doesn’t matter if you’re going out for a picnic in the park or having a romantic dinner in a fancy restaurant; you can count on this champagne by Barefoot for a good time. With notes of green apple, peach, cheese, strawberry, and watermelon, the Limited Edition Pride Burt Rose is a fresh alternative to expensive champagne that will weigh heavy on your pocket.

It uses Chardonnay and Pinot Nero for grapes. It especially works well with Pork, Rich Fish like salmon and tuna, shellfish, and cheese. At just $11.99 per bottle, this Burt Rose by Barefoot will make your pride celebrations more colorful and zealous with love and laughter!

4. Charles de Monrency Reserve Brut Champagne

The Reserve Brut Champagne by Charles de Monrency has a bold flavor portrait ranging from juicy citrus fruits to subtle oaky notes. It’s coated with a pale golden hue. This French champagne escorts a beautiful aroma and essence of apple cream minerals. With the Reserve Brut by Charles de Monrency, you can rest assured that you have a dinner partner for every occasion.

The nose employs an intense fragrance of apple, pear, cheese, and lemon peel. The smooth finish of this french champagne will leave you wanting more. Once you try it, you’re bound to reach for another bottle. Paired with Pork, Rich Fish, shellfish, or cheese, this sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France will have you spell-bound.

The Reserve Brut Champagne by Charles de Monrency contains sulfites and has 12.5% alcohol content. It’s made with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. Behind the creamy finish of this french champagne is the regional style of France and the utmost elegance. At $29, the Reserve Brut is the whole package.

5. Maison de Grand Esprit Extra Dry Champagne

The Marquis de La Mysteriela Extra Dry Champagne by Esprit Maison de Grand in Champagne, France, counts as one of the world’s top wines. With 59% Chardonnay and 41% Pinot Noir, it goes down easy with soft cheese, pork, and many other delicacies. This fresh blend of citrus fruits and a variety of wonders like raisins, lemongrass, grapefruit, vanilla work their magic as you enjoy your meal.

Apart from being a splendid mix of grace and beauty, the Marquis de La Mysteriela holds a rich aroma of toasted bread, almonds, and nougat fused with a delicate and tenacious mousse. This french champagne has the natural flavor of hand-harvested grapes, which are then processed in the winery. The initial foaming of this champagne is done at a controlled and low temperature, easily making it one of the best champagne under $30.

The second fermentation takes place in the bottle, allowing the champagne to age for not less than 15 months. Then, as a final cherry on the top, it’s administered with fine sugar and additives. This brilliant Marquis de La Mysteriela by Esprit Maison de Grand can be obtained at a 64% off for a price of $19.99 on Vivino.

FAQs on Champagnes under $30

1. Is 30-year-old Champagne Still Good?

Alas, as much as we hate it, champagne does go bad. It doesn’t matter if it was stored in a cool and dry place; it will lose its bubbles. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not safe to drink, just that it won’t have the same effect as before. So if you find a bottle of champagne that’s older than 10 years, it’s best to let it go.

2. What Happens If You Drink Expired Champagne?

It’s not harmful to drink expired champagne. It won’t cause any sickness unless you drink a lot of it in one go.

3. How Long Is Champagne Good For Unopened?

Usually, a vintage bottle of champagne can be left unopened for five to ten years. And a non-vintage bottle is good for three to five years, provided you’ve stored them in a cool and dry place, like a refrigerator. It’s important to note that champagne will, however, go through changes as it ages. For example, it will develop a deeper pale yellow golden color than when you first bought it.

4. Where Should You Store Champagne?

The ideal temperature to store champagne is 55 degrees, but cooler than that is also good. In humid spaces, champagne tends to get spoiled. They’re supposed to be saved in a cool, dry place. Wherever you choose to place them, make sure they’re in a horizontal position. You also need to keep the corks moist because dry corks will result in contraction.

5. Is It Ok To Let Cold Champagne Get Warm?

Champagne should stay chilled, no matter what. Ideally, the champagne’s temperature should never be more than 86 degrees. However, it’s ok if this happens while you’re moving the champagne to a different place. But you still have to be careful with it.

Conclusion

It’s nice to treat yourself to an expensive bottle of champagne, but you don’t want to break the bank doing that for every meal. But we also understand that you deserve the very best. Hence, we scoured the corners of the earth to bring you our top choices for the best champagne under $30.

Whether you’re hosting a close party of friends for a get-together or diving straight into the celebration, champagne is here to stay. You can be certain that with this carefully curated list, you won’t have to compromise.

And here, we conclude our search for the best champagne under $30. We hope this guide helps you select the ideal champagne bottle for your needs. Keep celebrating!

Jeffery Keith