Faced with the economic gloom, now is not the time to open bottles of champagne. As a result, champagne shipments in the first half of 2024 reached 106.7 million bottles, down 15.2% compared to a particularly high level recorded over the same period in 2023 and closer to that of 2019, the Champagne Committee said in a press release.
“The gloomy global geopolitical and economic situation, as well as widespread inflation, are weighing on household consumption. Champagne is also continuing to suffer the consequences of distributors’ overstocking in 2021 and 2022,” said David Chatillon, president of the Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC), in a press release. The vineyard, the committee explains, has been suffering from poor weather conditions since the beginning of the year, including a lack of sunshine, a start to the growing season marked by cool weather and pressure from mildew, a fungus that attacks vines.
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The marketable yield for 2024 was set by the committee at 10,000 kg per hectare, compared to 11,400 kg per hectare in 2023.
Unlike other wines, most bottles of Champagne are a blend of several vintages, based on stocks from previous years. They are replenished in good years and can compensate for poor harvests.
This is not the first time the region has suffered significant losses from a combination of frost and mildew damage. Yields fell by 25% in 2021 compared to the five-year average and the harvest fell to its lowest level in 35 years.
The harvest should begin around September 10-12, on average.
Unusually, the committee did not give annual forecasts for sales and exports.
With Reuters (Sybille de La Hamaide, French version Kate Entringer, edited by Blandine Hénault)
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
