Champagne makers pop corks on record $6.5B in 2022 sales

David Chatillon -- chairman of the Union des Maisons de Champagne -- says "opening a bottle of champagne is in itself a celebration."
REUTERS

Champagne gross sales are anticipated to achieve a brand new document this yr, regardless of inflation that might have made shoppers shun the costly bubbly, producers stated forward of the beginning of year-end celebrations around the globe.

Champagne gross sales reached an all-time excessive final yr at $6.05 billion as the comfort of pandemic-related curbs fueled a surge in exports.

“We'll very seemingly beat this document once more and 2022 would be the new champagne document by way of turnover,” David Chatillon, chairman of the Union of Champagne Homes, advised Reuters in Reims, in jap France, residence to a few of the most well-known Champagne makers.

Gross sales would additionally rise by quantity this yr in contrast with the 320 million bottles bought in 2021, however stay under the 2007 document of 339 million bottles, he stated.

“Now we have shoppers who're maybe much less impacted by inflation than others and we now have seen because the finish of the pandemic disaster that individuals need to have enjoyable, they need good merchandise and opening a bottle of champagne is in itself a celebration,” Chatillon stated.

Champagne gross sales reached an all-time excessive final yr at 5.7 billion euros ($6.05 billion).

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Export gross sales have been additionally anticipated to achieve document highs.

“Our first three markets, the USA, Britain and Japan, are doing very nicely and so are the opposite European locations,” Chatillon stated.

Champagne costs have risen this yr as winemakers handed on an increase in prices, notably for bottles and transport. The power crunch had much less affect than on extra energy-intensive sectors as harvesting was executed manually, he stated.

Champagne costs have risen this yr as winemakers handed on an increase in prices, notably for bottles and transport.

REUTERS

This yr’s wine harvest in Champagne, which Chatillon referred to as “miraculous,” was 45% above the five-year common as a result of good climate circumstances and doubled from 2021, when frost and mildew fungus ravaged vineyards, official knowledge confirmed.

The warfare in Ukraine and sanctions towards Russia had little affect on Champagne gross sales as bottles have been re-dispatched to fulfill sturdy demand from different markets, Chatillon stated.