Here is an excerpt from an article published at the beginning of this year in the magazine "Le Point", which perfectly explains the current situation:
"The first surprises for the winegrowers and major Champagne houses: Demand is exploding! Less pleasing is that prices are also rising.
Exceptional sales figures, increasing sales figures in France and abroad, and rising prices, but is the optimism fragile?
Before the pandemic, there was a slow erosion and then the great silence during the pandemic. Now the curve is reversing, and 2022 promises to be a great year for balance sheets! From January onwards, everyone was looking for boxes, bottles, and corks. Demand was so high that it was impossible to deliver. Some brands and winegrowers had to limit sales, even if they were offered two barrels of mustard in exchange!
However, prices continue to rise, with no end in sight. For wine lovers, there is only one piece of advice: stock up before prices rise further, or be patient. The price increase will continue.
Despite a very generous harvest, demand has whetted the appetite. The price for a kilo of grapes has risen from a proud €7 to an exorbitant €10 or more. To produce 75 centiliters of Champagne, you need between 1.2 and 1.5 kg of grapes. Not to mention the costs of labor, storage, equipment, etc. And then there's the "dry material" (corks, labels, wire, collars, boxes, bottles...), which devours energy.
Prices rose sharply in 2022 and are expected to increase by 15-25% at the beginning of 2023. Transport companies have significantly increased their tariffs, which impacts prices.
So, while we are happy about the 2022 harvest, which came at exactly the right time, we are inevitably concerned about the sudden price increase.
The worry that follows the euphoria does not yet overly cloud the optimism at the beginning of 2023, because Champagne is not just about foam, but about what it conveys!
And we are once again crossing our fingers that nature will bring forth another new good harvest in 2023.
