FRANCE: Champagne harvest set to plummet as poor weather takes hold

By Stuart Todd | 5 September 2012

The Champenois will be hoping a small harvest this year will drive up retail prices next year

This year's Champagne harvest will be among the smallest seen in the past 20 years and down 30% on 2011, according to the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC).

Poor weather conditions in the Champagne region are to blame, the trade body said earlier today (5 September). Frosts in April and May destroyed 2,900 hectares of vines, while storms and hailstones in June and July ravaged a further 1,000 hectares.

In addition, the flowering period of the vines was marked by cold and wet conditions which limited the growth of grape bunches.

However, the CIVC noted that the dry and sunny weather which has prevailed since the beginning of August has "favoured the maturity of grapes in excellent conditions," making a very good quality harvest possible.

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Expert analysis

Global market review of Champagne – forecasts to 2016

Some of the issues and challenges addressed in the previous edition of just-drinks' Champagne report continue to influence a category struggling to grow. Recovery from economic downturn and tumbling sales was evidenced in 2010 and part way through 2011, only to be replaced with a further slow down at the end of that year and continuing into 2012. This has been more prevalent in the western European countries. Elsewhere there has been better sales performance, noteably in the US and Japan, significantly in Australia and not forgetting the burgeoning economies of Asia and Greater China. However, even these new markets can only go part way to offset the situation in the more mature markets, to such an extent that total Champagne shipments are expected to rise only slightly during 2012. According to the report, pronounced growth is unlikely until 2015.|

Sectors: Wine