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Like mince pies and Eggnog (okay, maybe not Eggnog!) it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a good bottle of bubbly.

Champagne just seems to suit the occasion, whether it’s toasting a family re-united, laced with fresh orange for a Christmas morning pick-me-up, or celebrating Christmas Day.

And what about New Year? Popping champagne corks is a global soundtrack that kicks-in after the world has counted down from ten.

So, if we’ve established that a bottle of fizz is pretty much a festive essential, the next question has got to be ‘which one’?

Recognising that you’ve probably enough to contend with before Santa’s arrival, here are my Top 10 recommendations (to suit every budget) from HOME DELIVERY WINE’s comprehensive champagne range.

1. Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial - What can I say, this is a real personal favourite. The first and only champagne created to be enjoyed over ice, it is intense, fruity, and has a wonderful creamy texture. Ice Imperial has a real elegant maturity and will be my choice for toasting Christmas Day, served in a large Cabernet-style glass with not one, not two, but three ice cubes (very important that!). 
   
   
2. Bollinger Limited Edition 007 Spectre - Not only is this beautifully presented bottle a great gift or collectible (especially for the aspiring Mr Bond in your life), it’s also an excellent champagne. Housed in oak barrels at the start of the process, Bond’s Bolly is matured slowly, fermented twice after bottling, and preserves the freshness of its five crus.
   
   
3. Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon 2006 - When Richard Juhlin, probably the world’s leading expert on champagne, says: “It’s not often you fall over backwards when a wine is first launched on the market”, you know it’s special. With wonderful earthy aromas, Mr Juhlin gave this 2006 Dom a score of 97 points (the highest score since the legendary 1966).
   
   
4. Duval Leroy 2000 Femme de Champagne - A multi award-winning bubbly with the perfect balance of finesse and power. From the outstanding 2000 vintage, this golden elixir is enriched with around fifteen crus and generous quantities of reserve wines. The only champagne to make the Wine Spectator Magazine’s Top 100 in 2008. 
   
   
5. Bollinger La Grande Annee James Bond - With a presentation package cooler than an Eskimo’s nose (you actually need a secret three-digit code to open the box) this is another of Bollinger’s increasingly collectible 007 limited editions. The superb 2002 Grande Annee Vintage has a pale golden hue, with apple, citrus fruit and thyme.
   
   
6. Lanson White Label - A twist on the traditional House of Lanson style, this is a champagne that’s suitable for just about any occasion. Produced using 38% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Noir, and 25% Pinot Meunieur grapes, it retains the trademark freshness and zest, but with a sweetness that works well with fruit. 
   
   
7. Tsarine Champagne Cuvee Premium Brut - Maybe not enjoying the same profile as Bollinger or Dom Perignon, Tsarine is actually the second oldest Champagne house, dating back to 1730. The Premium Cuvee combines floral notes and refreshing citrus aromas with white peach and raisin. The striking swirling bottle design doffs its cap to the spires of St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square.
   
   
8. Veuve Clicquot - Take three classic Champagne grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier), and add close to 250-years of expertise - the result is this real powerhouse of a champagne. Rich and elegant, the flavours evoke apricot, peach, and vanilla. Fresh and invigorating, the Veuve Clicquot will add fizz to any festive celebration.
   
   
9. Armand De Brignac Ace of Spades - Gorgeous bottle, gorgeous champagne. The Ace of Spades was launched to universal praise from wine critics and connoisseurs alike, and was voted No1 Champagne in the World following a blind test of more than 1000 brands. Made exclusively from Premier Cru and Grand Cru grapes, I’ll let one of the world’s top wine critics, Jancis Robinson, sum this bad boy up: “It’s tense and refreshing with scents in the floral vegetation spectrum followed by real precision on the palate.” Note: Home Delivery Wine currently has more than £50 OFF the RRP.
   
   
10. Piper Heidsieck Brut NV Champagne - A really competitively priced champers that secured Silver at the 2014 International Wine Challenge (just one of many awards). A classic, full-bodied and fruity Champagne, the Piper Heidsieck is the bubbly of choice at the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars. Perfumes of blackcurrant and strawberry follow through to a ripe fruit on the palate. This is balanced by a fresh and clean finish. Well, I suppose if it’s good enough for the likes of George Clooney and Angelina Jolie…

This is just a selection from the range of champagnes available at HOME DELIVERY WINE. So, why not check out the champers - there’s still time to add some extra fizz to your festivities (Place your order by Sunday, December 17 for Christmas Delivery). Merry Christmas!