Prosecco crisis over as supermarket creates £5 fizz

RUMOURS of post-Brexit price hikes have sent Prosecco lovers into a spin in fear that they will no longer be able to afford their favourite bottle of fizz.

Experts had warned of a 9 per cent rise in the cost of Prosecco.

But now one supermarket has responded by creating its own cut-price sparkling wine blend, which it has dubbed “Progrigio” and claim s“tastes just like Prosecco”.

The wine, which will retail for just £5 and is a mix of Prosecco and the cheaper Pinot Grigio, will plug the gap for fans of the sparkling drink, which experts from the UK Wine and Spirit Trade Association have warned is set to rise by nine per cent or 59p a bottle.

The rises are, they claim, due to the weaker pound, combined with potential increases in duty on alcohol and higher inflation in the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

Ed Betts, wine buying manager at Asda, which will sell the drink, said: “We always strive to keep prices as low as possible without compromising on quality and we believe Progrigio is the ideal affordable sparkling wine alternative.”

“We want to protect the demand for sparkling wine by offering customers more choice, and by moving slightly away from the Prosecco region we have discovered a great example of quality fizz at an everyday price.”