Best Sparkling Wines Under $25: Beyond Prosecco and Cheap Champagne

Champagne is wonderful. It’s also expensive — most decent bottles start at $40, and serious Champagne climbs quickly into triple digits. The good news: sparkling wine from other regions can be equally delightful at a fraction of the cost.

Here’s your guide to the best bubbles under $25.

How Sparkling Wine Is Made (And Why It Matters for Price)

There are two main methods, and understanding them helps you shop smarter:

Traditional Method (Méthode Traditionnelle): Second fermentation happens inside the individual bottle. This creates fine, persistent bubbles and complex flavors from yeast contact. More labor-intensive, more expensive. Used for Champagne, Crémant, Cava, and English sparkling.

Tank Method (Charmat/Martinotti): Second fermentation happens in large tanks. Preserves fresh, fruity character with softer, larger bubbles. Faster and cheaper to produce. Used for Prosecco and Lambrusco.

Both methods produce excellent wines — they just taste different.

Best Traditional Method Sparklings Under $25

Crémant: France’s Best-Kept Secret

Crémant wines are made using the exact same method as Champagne, often from the same or similar grapes, but from different French regions. The quality-to-price ratio is outstanding.

Crémant de Loire ($12-20) — Made from Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay in the Loire Valley. Apple, pear, and honey notes with fine, persistent bubbles. Often the closest thing to Champagne character under $20.

Crémant d’Alsace ($12-18) — Made from Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris in Alsace. Floral and aromatic with citrus freshness. The largest production Crémant and widely available.

Crémant de Bourgogne ($14-22) — Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Burgundy. The closest sibling to Champagne in terms of grape varieties and style. Elegant, toasty, and structured.

Crémant de Limoux ($10-16) — From the Languedoc, made with Mauzac, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc. Claims to be the birthplace of sparkling wine (before Champagne). Fresh, apple-driven, excellent value.

Cava (Spain, $8-22)

Spanish Cava from Penedès (near Barcelona) uses the traditional method with indigenous grapes — Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarello. The result is dry, nutty, and citrusy with fine bubbles.

Entry-level Cava ($8-12) is a party wine with clean, refreshing character. Reserva Cava ($14-22) spends longer aging on lees and develops toasty, biscuity complexity that genuinely rivals mid-range Champagne.

Look for: Gramona, Raventós i Blanc, Juvé & Camps, and Mestres for top-tier Cava that redefines expectations.

Franciacorta (Italy, $18-25)

Franciacorta from Lombardy is Italy’s answer to Champagne — traditional method, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with strict aging requirements. The entry-level bottlings under $25 are polished, elegant, and complex.

English Sparkling ($18-25)

England’s chalky soils in Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire mirror Champagne’s terroir. English sparkling wine has won blind tastings against Champagne and continues to gain recognition. Look for Nyetimber, Chapel Down, or Hattingley Valley at the lower end of their ranges.

Best Tank Method Sparklings Under $25

Prosecco (Italy, $10-18)

Prosecco from the Veneto offers a completely different style — fruity, floral, and frothy with flavors of green apple, pear, and white flowers. It’s lighter and less complex than traditional method sparklings, but that’s the point.

Prosecco DOC ($10-14) is the everyday option. Prosecco Superiore DOCG from Conegliano Valdobbiadene ($14-20) delivers noticeably more depth, with mineral notes and greater intensity.

Lambrusco (Italy, $8-15)

Emilia-Romagna’s red sparkling wine is one of Italy’s most underrated treasures. The good stuff (look for “Secco” on the label for dry) offers dark cherry, violet, and refreshing fizz. Outstanding with pizza and cured meats.

Sekt (Germany, $10-18)

German Riesling Sekt delivers the grape’s signature acidity and stone fruit character in sparkling form. Look for “Winzersekt” — estate-produced sparkling made from single vineyards. It’s niche but exceptional.

When to Pop Each Bottle

The Sparkling Wine Knowledge Edge

Most people grab Prosecco or save up for Champagne, missing the enormous world in between. Knowing about Crémant, Reserva Cava, and Franciacorta gives you access to outstanding sparkling wine at prices that make celebrating a regular occurrence rather than a special event.

Scan any sparkling wine with Sommo to learn about its production method, region, and what to expect. The more you know about how bubbles are made, the better you’ll choose them.

Life’s too short for bad bubbles — and too short to overpay for good ones.