Are We Facing a Champagne Shortage?

Filed in archive Sparkling Wine on August 15, 2007

Wine drinkers and collectors from China and India aren't only driving up prices of "collectable" wines, it seems that their demand for bubbly has the potential to drain the global market of Champagne. If this happens, wine drinkers in Great Britain might be the first ones to feel the pinch.

From Daily Mail:

Increasing global demand for champagne means there could soon be a worldwide shortage - with Britons likely to be the first to miss out.

vineyard owners in eastern France are refusing to sell tens of millions of bottles stocked in their cellars because they see them as their retirement "nest-eggs".

The result is that the most prestigious French champagne houses are having trouble keeping pace with rising demand in the US and emerging markets such as Russia, China and India.

According to the article, recents years have seen sharp rises in champagne sales worldwide, from 287 million bottles in 2002 to 321 million in 2006. In China, exports are growing by 50 percent and in India, exports are growing by 125 percent. Luckily there are some great alternatives to Champagne. Personally, I've been enjoying several different Cavas and Proseccos this summer. But if you only drink the French sparkling, you might want to bulk up your cellar.