What's the story with . . . Champagne? The French are understandably prickly about quality control of their bubbly, but history holds something of a surprise for topers
IF THE bubbly in your glass this Hogmanay comes from the 35,000- hectare region of France that's west of Lorraine, then count yourself lucky: huge demand for champagne is creating a run on supply.
In the 12 months to August, global demand for the world's most prestigious wine hit 333 million bottles. That's 11 million up on the previous year and three million more than the productive capacity of the Champagne region.
The British are champagne's most ardent fans and the single biggest import market for the wine. In 2006, half a bottle was drunk per inhabitant of the UK, a figure which is set to be surpassed this year.
Champagne - not to be confused with prosecco, cremant, spumante, cava, sekt or other mere "sparkling wines" - is the undisputed empress of wines and enjoys nearmythic status as a must-have for any elegant celebration. …
Related articles on HighBeam Research
The Washington Post; May 3, 2000
The Washington Post; December 18, 2013
The Washington Post; December 4, 2013
Publication Finder
Browse back issues from our extensive library of more than 6,500 trusted publications.
Popular publicationson HighBeam Research
Help us improve our websites
Become a member of our Customer Advisory Panel. Your opinion matters!
Join the panel