Tingling wines
Champagne mood lets go
The people in Germany bought fewer champagne in 2024. There are several reasons.
Rising prices, economic uncertainty and falling purchasing power: The people in Germany drink fewer champagne. “Conscious restrictions of the harvest in the first pandemic year and frost in spring 2021, in conjunction with an exceptionally high demand in the following years, led to significant price increases in the champagne,” said the chairman of the management and CEO of Henkell Freixenet, Andreas Brokemper.
“The high prices now meet a falling purchasing power, which allows the quantity declines to be justified,” says Brokemper.
High prices and uncertain times
Champagne is a symbol of a good atmosphere, for festive occasions and small outbreaks from everyday life, says the director of the Bureau du Champagne for Germany, Christian Josephi. Positive occasions are rather rare in the currently uncertain times when jobs are also dismantled and crisis mood is spread, both in private and economy. And: “The money is held together.”
The champagne sales in Germany fell by 18.5 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. The number of bottles delivered to Germany dropped from 11.6 million to 9.51 million, as the manufacturer Association Comité Champagne in Stuttgart and in the French Épernay announced.
The sales of the French champagne producers on the German market therefore fell from 268 to 228.8 million euros. That was still the third strongest year, says Josephi. According to its own statements, the association represents the interests of all 16,200 champagne winemakers and 370 champagne houses.
Many choose Crémant
Champagne may only be grown in certain areas in France. The approximately 34,000 hectares are located in the champagne northeast of Paris. The processing of the grapes is strictly regulated. For example, they may only be harvested by hand.
The champagne producers also clearly felt the social trend towards alcohol abstinence, reports Josephi. He describes another development like this: less, but better. “The trend towards demand for higher-priced champagne qualities continues.”
With high -quality crémant, which also stands for the French attitude to life, there is definitely an increase, reports Josephi. “Nobody will switch from champagne to a supermarket sparkling wine.”
Henkell Freixenet also states a high demand for the more cheaper, but still very high -quality crémant compared to champagne, as Brokemper says. This sparkling wine is produced outside the champagne using the process of classic bottle fermentation (Méthode Champenoise).
Easter could pop the champagne cork again
The Hawesko Holding in Hamburg sees a significant increase in the sale of champagne, but also by Crémant, Prosecco and German winemaker in the first weeks of the new year. “We are expecting a positive development for the rather late Easter business this year,” says a spokeswoman for the commercial house for wines and champagne.
dpa
Source: Stern
