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Champagne bottles in the supermarket
Photo: Paul Zinken / dpa
There's no reason to celebrate: France's champagne producers are toasting to a real record year.
They sold more than 320 million bottles in 2021 and achieved sales of over 5.5 billion euros, according to the industry association "Comité Champagne".
In the second year of Corona, consumption at home “picked up speed”.
"Consumers have decided to make themselves beautiful at home," said the association.
In the first year of Corona, the sales of French champagne manufacturers fell by 20 percent.
Bad harvest, good sale
In 2021, demand picked up again - and surprised some manufacturers who had difficulties with delivery.
In Spain, for example, the brands Ruinart, Moët&Chandon and Dom Pérignon were temporarily no longer in stock.
The French market grew by 25 percent to almost 142 million bottles, returning to the level of 2019. Exports continued to rise, reaching a new record of 180 million bottles.
The champagne grape harvest in 2021, on the other hand, was not very record-breaking: frosts in spring and a rainy summer made for a poor harvest.
The cellars of the winemakers are still full because champagne has to mature for more than a year.
rai/AFP
