“It's madness!
Enthuses Benoit Melendez, the creator of the Extra Brut, located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.
We are no longer able to meet demand too much ”.
The bubbles turn the heads of wine merchants.
The bottles of champagne are going like hot cakes a few days before the end of the year celebrations.
This year 2021 should even, according to forecasts, amount to 5.5 billion euros, or 500 million more than the last record of 2019. This represents 315 million bottles sold.
"The pandemic has led to new consumption patterns and everything related to conviviality at home, such as champagne, is experiencing a very positive trend" notes Jean-Marie Barillère, co-president of the Interprofessional Committee for Champagne Wine (CIVC) and president of the Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC).
So much so that the supply is sometimes difficult.
“No risk of shortage” reassures Benoit Melendez, “except perhaps for very specific wines”.
The wine merchant nevertheless warns of a possible increase in prices linked to this strong demand.