Tyson Stelzer announces his top 50 sparkling buys of the moment and discovers that the best deals are not where you might expect.

You’ll always get the best sparkling deal by walking into your local chain store where the lowest prices are guaranteed, right? This year, if you shop around, you might be in for a surprise.

It’s Melbourne Cup week and the race is on for the best sparkling prices. This is always the best time of the year to stock up on fizz, and there are enticing deals to snap up from now until New Year.

But buyer beware. When I went hunting this week for the best deals on all my highest scoring wines in The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 and my top picks in my Australian Sparkling Report 2017, I was amazed at what I found.

What would you expect? Surely the cheapest pricing would be offered by the chain stores with the biggest buying power, promoting that they offer the best pricing?

Here’s the twist. Of my top fifty best buys, chain stores offered the best price just eleven times, buying direct from the winery was cheaper four times and independent wine stores an incredible 35 times. This means that independents and cellar doors offer the best prices on fizz almost four times in five.

I’m not talking small differences. This year prices on a bottle of champagne vary by as much as 50% from one store to another. Champagne is one of the most heavily discounted and promoted of all wines because it’s a huge lure for retailers to get you through the door. This makes for vast disparity in pricing, and never have I seen such diverse differences on the streets.

And it’s not that there are one or two stores out there offering the best deals on everything. In hunting down the best prices for you, I’ve done all the hard work so you don’t have to, and I’ve found an incredible 33 different stores, each of which offer the very best price in the country right now on at least one of the cuvées in my line up below.

If a store near you doesn’t offer the best price or you don’t want to order online, follow my link below, print out the offer, show it to your local and ask them to look after you.

Always buy by the six pack to get the best price. Most stores will let you mix and match. Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, so stock up!

I am pleased to announce my top 50 sparkling buys of the moment, from $17 to $1,400! For my full notes and scores on each wine, see my Australian Sparkling Report 2017 (free download) and The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 (released this week).

The top Australian sparklings under $30

Dal Zotto Pucino Prosecco 2016, RRP $23
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 88)
$17 at https://www.danmurphys.com.au

Ninth Island Tasmania NV, RRP $30
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 36)
$19 at Vintage Cellars, First Choice and Dan Murphy’s

Mountadam Pinot Chardonnay NV, RRP $27
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 35)
$20 at http://www.boccaccio.com.au

Seppelt Salinger Henty Vintage Cuvée Méthode Traditionnelle 2013, RRP $30
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 35)
$23 at https://www.winesellersdirect.com.au

Deviation Road Altair Brut Rosé NV, RRP $30
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 79)
$27 at https://www.winesquare.com.au

Frogmore Creek Méthode Traditionnelle Cuvée 2010, RRP $40
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 47)
$30 at http://www.dortodoor.com

Best’s Great Western Sparkling Shiraz 2013, RRP $35
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 95)
$30 at WineStar, Cloudwine and Nick’s

The top sparklings under $50

Clover Hill Cuvée Exceptionnelle Blanc de Blancs 2010, RRP $65
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 68)
$35 at https://www.danmurphys.com.au

Kreglinger Vintage Rosé 2006, RRP $65
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 79)
$35 at https://www.gasworkscellardoor.com.au

Piper-Heidsieck Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 304)
$35 at Vintage Cellars and Dan Murphy’s

Coldstream Hills Blanc de Blancs 2011, RRP $45
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 68)
$36 at https://shop.coldstreamhills.com.au

Josef Chromy Vintage Sparkling 2011, RRP $45
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 47)
$37 at http://www.jimmurphy.com.au

Ashton Hills Sparkling Shiraz 2009, RRP $45
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 94)
$41 at https://www.ashtonhills.com.au

Teusner MC Sparkling Shiraz 2010, RRP $65
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 95)
$44 at https://www.danmurphys.com.au

Lanson Black Label Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 227)
$48 at https://www.danmurphys.com.au

Veuve Fourny & Fils Blanc de Blancs Vertus Premier Cru Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 350)
$49 at http://www.princewinestore.com.au

Henschke Johanne Ida Selma Blanc de Noir MD, RRP $60
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 64)
$49 at http://www.winecow.com.au

The top sparklings under $70

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Cuis 1er Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 292)
$53 at http://www.princewinestore.com.au

Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 286)
$53 at https://www.danmurphys.com.au

Apogee Deluxe Vintage Rosé 2014, RRP $60
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 79)
$55 at https://www.apogeetasmania.com

House of Arras Méthode Traditionnelle Grand Vintage 2007, RRP $70
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 63)
$57 at https://winehouse.com.au

House of Arras Méthode Traditionnelle Grand Vintage 2008, RRP $70
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 64)
$57 at https://www.kemenys.com

Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage Méthode Traditionnelle 2008, RRP $60
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 63)
$59 at https://worldwine.com.au

House of Arras Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs 2007, RRP $80
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 69)
$59 at https://winehouse.com.au

House of Arras Méthode Traditionnelle Rosé 2006, RRP $80
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 80)
$60 at http://www.graysonline.com

Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 75)
$62 at https://www.danmurphys.com.au

Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red NV, RRP $90
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 95)
$65 at https://www.summerhillwineshop.com.au

Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 65)
$65 at http://www.winestar.com.au

Palmer & Co Brut Réserve NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 273)
$67 at https://www.thewineemporium.com.au

André Clouet Rosé No 3 Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 41)
$70 at https://www.thevinepress.com.au

The top sparklings under $100

Bérêche & Fils Brut Réserve NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 54)
$71 at http://www.internationalfinewines.com.au

Gatinois Aÿ Grand Cru Brut Tradition NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 152)
$74 at https://www.jimmurphy.com.au

Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 91)
$75 at http://www.winestyleonline.com.au

Deutz Brut Rosé NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 115)
$80 at https://www.communitywines.com.au

Seppelt Show Sparkling Limited Release Shiraz 2007, RRP $100
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 94)
$85 at http://shop.seppelt.com.au

Veuve Fourny & Fils Monts de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra-Brut 2009
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 352)
$85 at http://www.winestyleonline.com.au

Gatinois Aÿ Grand Cru Brut Rosé NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 153)
$90 at http://www.shopforwine.net.au

Alfred Gratien Brut Rosé NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 37)
$90 at Bellevue Hill and Prince

Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2008
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 345)
$90 at Prince, Kemeny’s, Nicks, Vintage Cellars and Dan Murphy’s

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 65)
$99 at http://zenbeverages.com

Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 91)
$99 at http://www.winesquare.com.au

Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2008
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 310)
$100 at https://www.cellarmasters.com.au

The top sparklings under $200

Bollinger Rosé Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 76)
$110 at https://champagnegallery.com.au

Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée Rosé Extra Brut NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 80)
$113 at http://www.princewinestore.com.au

Ayala Blanc de Blancs Brut 2008
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 50)
$120 at https://champagnegallery.com.au

House of Arras Méthode Traditionnelle EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2003, RRP $130
(Tyson Stelzer’s Australian Sparkling Report 2017 page 63)
$135 at WineSquare and Dan Murphy’s

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay 2008
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 295)
$165 at https://champagnegallery.com.au

Krug Grande Cuvée 163ème Edition NV
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 211)
$196 at https://www.cellarit.com.au

The top champagnes over $200

Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 1996
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 137)
$255 at http://www.shopforwine.net.au

Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart 2002
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 68)
$276 at https://www.jimmurphy.com.au

Bollinger R.D. Extra Brut 2002
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 78)
$360 at http://www.boccaccio.com.au

Krug Vintage 2002
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 210)
$395 at https://champagnegallery.com.au

Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut 2002
(The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 page 212)
$1,400 at https://www.ourcellar.com.au