Champagne

Champagne Sales Topped $6.5 billion as Exports Surge

The official 2022 shipments from Champagne were released yesterday showing a year-end total of 326 million bottles.  Total shipments increased 1.6%. This is the highest annual figure in 15 years, and third greatest since the 1999 pre-Millennium surge. Driving growth rates for Champagne shipments in 2022 have been exports of the fizz, which were up

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Wine News: Champagne Approves Lower Planting Density

One year after Champagne growers voted to change the needed distance between vines, the Champagne initiative ‘vignes semi-larges’ has been finally approved by the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité, but with considerable opposition. This means that the necessary distance between rows of vines will soon be increased to 2.2 meters, up from

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Wine + Spirts “Royal Warrants” become void after Queen’s death

There is a collection of well-known spirits and Champagne brands that will have their royal warrant status reviewed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Brands and suppliers including Gordon’s gin, Champagne brands: Mumm and Moët, and wine merchants Corney & Barrow and Berry & Bros & Rudd all carry the Queen’s coat of arms

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Climate change forces an early start to Champagne Harvest

Picking officially commenced in Champagne last Saturday with start dates spread between August 20 and September 6th, depending on the location of the vineyards in the 34,000-hectare region. The timing of the harvesting is guided by the Réseau Matu, which is a network of hundreds of representative vineyard plots spread across the appellation. The harvest

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The Champagne Masters 2022: Results Announced

The Champagne Masters 2022: Results Announced Now in its 11th year, The Champagne Masters has a long track-record of identifying not only the best in the category, but also the strengths and weakness of Champagne. In terms of unearthing the stars of Champagne in 2022, the judges picked out over 40 exceptional bottles. Drinks Business

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Burgundy’s Rising Prices Drive Liv-ex 1000 Index In January

  The Liv-ex 1000 continued its bull run into the new year, rising 3.5%. The Burgundy 150 was its best-performing sub-index, up 6.4%. Champagne 50 and Rest of the World 60 followed, both rising 5.6%. The broadest measure of the market, the Liv-ex Fine Wine 1000 index, rose 3.5% in January to close the month

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Mumm Millésimé 2015 – Virtual Tasting

Yesterday I participated in a virtual tasting with Cellar Master Laurent Fresnet of Maison Mumm to celebrate the release of Mumm Millésimé 2015. It was wonderful opportunity to see Laurent again and engage in the online conversation.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t participate in the tasting portion (at this time) my bottle was stuck at customs. What

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