Champagne & sparkling: still highly seasonal wines!

VinoVision Paris – an international trade show for wines from northern France – has published a fascinating analysis which overturns the received wisdom on the consumption of sparkling wines in France… and makes sobering reading for all the champagne lovers here at iDealwine.

In the run-up to its 2nd edition, which is to be held from 12-14 February 2018, VInovision Paris has released a number of interesting statistics on sparkling wine consumption, generated by a study conducted by the Kantar Worldpanel institute.

Lovers of champagne or other effervescent wines may find this next fact hard to swallow: even as world consumption of sparkling wines increased between 2009 and 2016 (+23%, according to Agrex Consulting’s Observatoire mondial des vins), there was actually a slight decline in France. That’s right. In 2013, 48.7% of French households bought sparkling wine, compared to 47.7% in 2016.

Sparkling wines still often seen as for end-of-year celebrations only

18% OF SPARKLING WINE BUYERS AND 26% OF CHAMPAGNE BUYERS FOR THE DECEMBER AND JANUARY PERIOD

It’s a finding which will seem incredible to anyone like us who needs no excuse to crack open the fizz, but in France at least, bubbly is still reserved predominantly for end-of-year celebrations. 18% of sparkling wine consumers buy it only in December and January. And champagnes are hit particularly hard by this phenomenon, with that figure rising to 26%. In other words, sparkling wines – and champagnes in particular – are products strongly dependent on seasonal factors, in common with foie gras and smoked salmon: 17% of buyers of smoked salmon and 59% of buyers of foie gras make their purchases between December and January.

 

WHEN CELEBRATING AN EVENT, CHAMPAGNE ACCOUNTS FOR 44% OF CONSUMPTION OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS ALL CHANNELS

But here’s a small crumb of comfort: festive celebrations of all kinds are generally accompanied by sparkling wine. On 36% of occasions when people reach for an alcoholic drink at such times, it’s a sparkling wine they opt for. This dominant share of the celebration sector is slightly more pronounced in the home (39%). Here, champagne takes the lion’s share of sparkling wine consumption, being selected as the fizz of choice on 44% of occasions.

Sparkling wines being drunk mostly as an apéritif

Champagne throughout the meal: hard to imagine? When drunk at home, sparkling wines are mainly consumed with an apéritif (in 62% of cases).

Millennials not major consumers of sparkling wines

Here at iDealwine, we note with some astonishment – and no little sadness – that the younger end of the market tends to turn its back on champagne and other sparkling drinks. In 2016, nearly 38% of under-35s bought sparkling wines. While not an insignificant proportion, this still represents a decline – down from a figure of 47% in 2011.

IN 2016, NEARLY 38% OF UNDER-35s BOUGHT SPARKLING WINES (COMPARED TO 47% IN 2011)

A huge selection of Champagne on iDealwine!

As you know, iDealwine can boast an incredible range of champagnes from growers and big-name maisons, with something to suit every pocket. Our selection grows every year, and currently features a choice of nearly 200 cuvées. So go on and treat yourself, now’s the time to make your move: our site has just been given the seal of approval by Wine-Searcher – the search engine dedicated to wine – for both the quality of its range and its prices. Hooray!

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