September 10, 2009, 1:07 pm Too Much Champagne?
Tony Cenicola/The New York TimesThere’s been a lot of talk recently about tough times for Champagne producers. Just a couple of years ago these producers were bragging about growing world-wide sales and expanding the boundaries of the Champagne appellation so they could fill more bottles. Now they are trying to cut production and limit yields.
Decanter magazine reports that Champagne sales are way down this year, by around 20 percent, and if the trend continues, 2009 could be the worst year for Champagne since 2001.
The news follows recent reports that grape growers in Champagne have agreed to pick 32 percent fewer grapes this year in an effort to compensate for a glut of Champagne sitting in warehouses. That particular number is debatable, as the agreement between growers and the big houses includes all kinds of ifs, ands, buts and outs. Even if actual numbers are difficult to pin down, Champagne producers are clearly suffering.
Naturally, this ought to mean opportunities for consumers. High-end bottles are coming down in price, though the chance to buy Cristal for under $200 a bottle is a little like those $5 million apartments that are now selling for $3.5 million.
On the low end, you still have to spend $30 to $40 for a decent bottle of non-vintage Champagne, which has been true for several years now, and at least $50 to $100 for vintage Champagne, which is often a big step in quality above the non-vintage bottles.
But keep your eyes open for sales in Champagne. I know I will.
Here in Dubai I have not checked restaurant prices, but I know that in the liqour stores prices are coming down. Mostly I buy the Valdivieso Brut, from Chile, a VERY RELIABLE and flavourful CHAMPAGNE whose price is a reasonable $10 per bottle!!
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