Many is the woman who thought, “You know what, I could do with some champagne for this shindig. But sod it, it’s too expensive so I’ll get sparkling wine. No-one will notice the difference.”

So, it’s good to see our go-to philosophy for parties/weddings/holidays (delete as appropriate) is endorsed by the experts.

Because a £7.99 bottle of sparkling wine has just landed a prestigious medal more often reserved for champagnes that are six times as expensive.

The triumph proves once and for all that you really don’t have to splash out for a stellar bottle of bubbly. 

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Lidl’s Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc, which flies off the shelves at an average rate of 10,000 bottles a month, bagged the “Silver Outstanding” title at the International Wine & Spirits Competition this week.

This annual contest recognises the best concoctions in the industry and has awarded the very same Silver Outstanding gong to nearly 40 of the world’s leading champagnes in the past.

A fellow champion in the category includes Veuve Clicquot 2008 Champagne, which retails at £55.99 on Majestic Wine.

So, we can officially say that Lidl’s Crémant is as good as a champagne over seven times its price.

Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc is made in the Burgundy region of France. It’s produced using the same grapes and method as champagne and is “highly underrated”, says Lidl.

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It's described as an “excellent aperitif” with “a well-integrated fizz and a dry, lingering finish”.

A spokesperson told The Sun that customers enjoy the “champagne-like dry, biscuity yet zesty finish to the sparkling wine – often more effervescent than Prosecco”.

Images: iStock/Lidl