Trade and prices 5 August 2026

Champagne shipments fall 9% in first half of 2026

Volume drop −9.1% vs H1 2025

Value drop Smaller decline — price held

Cause cited Post-pandemic normalisation; consumer trading-down

Source Comité Champagne

The Comité Champagne has reported that Champagne shipments fell 9.1% by volume in the first half of 2026 compared to H1 2025. The decline continues a correction from the record-breaking volumes of 2021 and 2022, when post-pandemic demand drove exceptional sales across all markets. Total shipments in H1 2026 stood at approximately 130 million bottles, compared to around 143 million in H1 2025.

The value decline was smaller than the volume drop — average price per bottle has held reasonably firm, suggesting the weakness is primarily in the volume-driven, lower-priced segment of the market rather than at the prestige end. This pattern is consistent with data from previous market corrections in the Champagne category.

Who is trading down — and to what

Consumer research cited by the Comité points to two intersecting pressures: inflationary squeeze on household budgets pushing some buyers toward lower-priced sparkling alternatives for everyday drinking; and a gradual normalisation of the occasions for which buyers choose Champagne. During the pandemic period, any celebration — or indeed, any glass of sparkling — was an occasion for Champagne. That framing has relaxed. For casual sparkling consumption, Prosecco (tank method, lower price point), Crémant d'Alsace and Crémant de Loire (traditional method, similar quality, lower price), and English sparkling wine have all captured share. For background on how these different methods affect style, see the Red, white, rosé and sparkling methods guide.

The US — Champagne's largest export market — showed the steepest volume decline, partly attributable to the broader premiumisation fatigue visible across US wine imports in the same period. The UK and Scandinavian markets held more steadily. In the UK, growing consumer familiarity with English sparkling wine at comparable price points is cited by analysts as a structural shift rather than a cyclical one. See the English sparkling wine record exports report for the parallel growth story.

What remains firm

Prestige cuvées — vintage Champagnes and top single-vineyard releases — showed resilience. Collector-grade bottles and allocation products (those released in limited quantities to a list of registered buyers) were largely unaffected by the volume decline. The market correction is concentrated in the non-vintage Brut segment, which accounts for the majority of total Champagne volume. The Brut Nature rule change from January 2027 may strengthen the premium positioning of the lowest-dosage tier over time, though its short-term commercial impact is modest.

Source: Comité Champagne, August 2026. OIV global sparkling data: oiv.int. Champagne shipment statistics: Comité Champagne. Published 5 August 2026. Corrections via the contact form.

Questions

About Champagne and the sparkling market.

Why have Champagne shipments fallen?

The Comité Champagne attributes the decline primarily to post-pandemic normalisation. Champagne shipments reached record levels in 2021 and 2022, when pent-up demand, hospitality reopening, and a shift in consumer spending toward premium products drove exceptional volumes. That demand wave has subsided. Additionally, inflationary pressure on consumer budgets has led some buyers to trade down to alternatives — Crémant, Cava and English sparkling wine — for everyday occasions, reserving Champagne for special events. The Comité Champagne data shows value held more steadily than volume, indicating that price-per-bottle remained roughly stable.

What is the Comité Champagne?

The Comité Champagne is the joint trade body representing both Champagne houses (the grandes marques) and growers (vignerons) in the Champagne AOC. It governs production rules, conducts market research, and represents the appellation internationally. It is separate from the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne), which is the name sometimes used for the same body. The Comité administers the AOC rules — including the recent Brut Nature dosage tightening — and publishes shipment statistics each half-year.

How does Champagne compare to other sparkling wine markets?

While Champagne volumes dipped, other premium sparkling categories showed growth in the same period. English sparkling wine exports grew 18% year-on-year in 2026 — see the English sparkling wine record exports report. Franciacorta (Italy's traditional-method sparkling) and quality Crémant producers from Alsace and Loire also reported steady or growing volumes. Prosecco volumes (tank method) remained broadly flat. The pattern suggests consumers are not abandoning sparkling wine; they are redistributing spend across a wider range of quality alternatives.

What is the difference between Champagne shipments and production?

Shipment data (also called "dégorgements" or "expéditions") counts bottles leaving the Champagne region for sale — it is a measure of commercial demand, not production. Production volumes (harvest and base wine) are reported separately. Champagne producers typically hold large stocks of reserve wine and non-vintage blends in their cellars; a dip in shipments does not necessarily mean reduced harvest or production. The OIV publishes global sparkling wine production data annually at oiv.int.

Is Champagne still worth buying at current prices?

WineTheGuide does not give purchasing advice. For independent critical assessments of specific Champagne houses and styles, Decanter and Jancis Robinson MW publish regular tastings. The Sparkling sweetness terms guide explains how to decode Brut, Extra Brut and other style designations on the label, and the style questionnaire can help identify whether a dry or slightly off-dry sparkling style suits your palate.