Rush to buy English sparkling wine amid fears of Champagne shortage
Sales of English sparkling wine surged over Christmas amid fears of Champagne shortages, according to one of Britain's leading wine merchants.
Majestic Wines, one of Britain's biggest wine retailers, said sales of English fizz grew by 19pc over the eight weeks to December 26.
It came as some of France’s biggest sparkling wine producers warned that bottles could run out.
The chief executive of Champagne giant Moët Hennessy, which owns brands such as Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon and Moët & Chandon, warned that his company was "running out of stock" at a press conference in Singapore in November.
Michel Drappier, head of Drappier Champagne, said last month the company had begun rationing its bottles to ensure it would not run out of wine before Valentine’s Day.
Tight supply of Champagne has been blamed on people wanting to celebrate and spend more on luxury in the aftermath of the pandemic. American buyers have also taken advantage of the strong dollar to buy up bottles.
Fears over possible shortages appear to have prompted some drinkers to turn to English fizz. Booming sales of English sparkling wine helped Majestic to the busiest ever trading day in its 42-year history on December 23.
While the English wine industry still only accounts for a small portion of wine sales in the UK, it has significantly grown in popularity over the last decade.
Charles Simpson, co-owner of English winery Simpsons Wine Estate, near Canterbury, said: “It wasn’t just Christmas time. There is insatiable demand. We just can’t make enough of it.”
The climate of the South of England has become increasingly favourable for winemakers over the past decades - a trend which is expected to continue over the years to come
A recent study by researchers at the University of Reading claimed that more than a fifth of the UK may have suitable weather to grow Chardonnay grapes for still wines by 2050.
Chardonnay grapes are currently grown in the UK and used for sparkling wines, but do not currently ripen enough for use in still wines.
Champagne houses Pommery and Taittinger have bought up land in England to take advantage of the conditions - although Mr Schauss said in December Moet Hennessy had no plans to follow in these footsteps.
Tamara Roberts, chief executive of Ridgeview Wine Estate, said: “The reputation [of English wine] has been building and building over the last ten years.
“It’s really helped with the mindset that if your favourite Champagne isn’t there, next on the shelf there’s a selection of English wines.”
English wine was not the only alternative fizz in demand at Majestic over Christmas. Sales of Spanish Cava grew by 29pc in the run up to the holiday.
Total sales at the wine retailer were up more than a fifth (21.1pc) over the Christmas period compared to pre-Covid levels in 2019.
Majestic chief executive John Colley said: "English Sparkling wine is a trend we've seen huge growth in over recent years. It represents a great value and quality sparkling alternative to the big French names, but we know how much our customers still value their champagnes too."
