Champagne falls flat as UK fizz sparkles
FRENCH champagne producers are lamenting a fall in sales to the UK as increasing numbers of Britons develop a taste for English sparkling wine.
The Comité Champagne trade association blamed the decrease in sales on the weaker pound following the Brexit referendum.
In a statement outlining its export results for 2017, it said: “The British market continues to be adversely affected by the Brexit effect, with a fall of 5.7 per cent by value and a marked decrease of 11 per cent by volume.”
But industry experts said the decrease in UK champagne sales had “absolutely nothing to do with Brexit”.
Neil Bruce, head of wine at the pub group Fuller’s, said: “We’re selling more English fizz than French champagne. Sales are up by about 50 per cent.
“Pound for pound, a good English sparkling wine will outperform a cheaper French house champagne.
“Customers get superb taste and quality and value for money.
“Champagne producers have raised their prices because of strong demand from Russia, China and to some extent, the US. The other big factor is the popularity of prosecco.
“There may be a slight currency element but it’s nothing compared to the price increases by the champagne houses.”
James Simmonds, of UHY Hacker Young, which tracks market trends, said: “The soaring popularity of English sparkling wine means it is now stocked in most major supermarkets.
“It’s also a regular fixture on the wine lists at top restaurants, which was unheard of not long ago.
“There is a growing sentiment amongst consumers to buy British wines where possible.
“The weaker pound since Brexit has undoubtedly provided a boost to the domestic industry as the price of imported proseccos, champagnes and cavas starts to bite.”
English sparkling wines are made with the same grapes and in the same way as champagne, but only wine produced in France’s Champagne region can take that name.
Around four million bottles of English sparkling wine were sold in Britain last year, up from about three million bottles in 2016.