An oversupply would harm Champagne’s well-cultivated luxury pedigree.Oleg Elkov/iStockPhoto / Getty Images
Facing reduced consumption in France and around the world and increasing economic uncertainty, Champagne producers will restrict this year’s harvest to approximately 255 million bottles, the lowest level since 2022.
Despite an anticipated healthy crop – a marked change from challenges faced last year in vineyards across the Champagne appellation that lost crops to frost and mildew – the industry set a yield of 9,000 kilograms per hectare. Producers expect to start harvesting in less than a month.
In the wake of drought conditions and decreased exports during the pandemic, crop yields in 2022 were set at 8,000 kg per hectare. (Last year’s yield was set at 10,000 kg per hectare.) Production levels are set by the Comité Champagne, which represents 350 Champagne houses and more than 16,000 winegrowers, to help the industry meet demand while maintaining quality, sustainability and exclusivity. An oversupply would harm Champagne’s well-cultivated luxury pedigree.
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“This decision reflects a clear-headed, united, and responsible Champagne region, capable of acting with restraint in an evolving world while maintaining unwavering confidence in its fundamental strengths. It demonstrates a spirit of cohesion in the face of challenges and a constant ability to look ahead with ambition,” says Maxime Toubart, co-president of the Comité Champagne, in a statement.
Champagne is often produced as multi-vintage cuvées, with the majority of the blend based on the current harvest and the rest selected from reserve inventories to help popular brands like Bollinger, Louis Roederer and Veuve Clicquot maintain a consistent style. The industry aims to maintain 3.8 years of product in inventory to maintain a healthy balance between supply and demand. The reduced crop in 2025 will allow producers to deplete some reserves.
Comité Champagne reported 271.4 million bottles of champagne were shipped in 2024, a 9.2-per-cent decrease from 2023 attributed to inflation and economic instability. The United States, United Kingdom and Japan are the largest markets for Champagne outside of France. Canada ranks as 10th overall in terms of volume and value.