Champagne Growers Report High-Quality Harvest Amid Ongoing Global Demand Challenges

Champagne producers in France are reporting improved grape quality this year, thanks to favorable weather conditions during the growing season. The announcement comes as the industry faces ongoing challenges from declining global demand for sparkling wine. Producers completed grape-picking in the Champagne region last week, and early assessments suggest that the 2025 vintage will be of high quality.

The improvement in grape quality offers some relief to producers who have been grappling with a drop in sales. In July, industry leaders decided to reduce this year’s harvest by 10 percent, limiting yields to 9,000 kilograms per hectare. This follows a 12 percent cut in the previous year. The decision was made in response to falling demand, which has been attributed to a global decrease in alcohol consumption, economic uncertainty, and concerns over U.S. tariffs on European wines.

Maxime Toubart, chairman of the champagne growers group SGV, told reporters that the weather had played a crucial role this season. “We were lucky to have good weather in the right place at the right time,” Toubart said. He noted that while the quality of grapes is promising, overall sales volumes remain under pressure.

According to data from SGV, champagne sales fell by 1.8 percent in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, totaling 145 million bottles. However, exports showed a slight increase of 0.2 percent after experiencing a sharp decline of more than 10 percent in 2024. Toubart said there are signs that the decline in demand may be slowing, but he cautioned that optimism is still limited among producers.

One factor influencing recent export figures was an uptick in shipments to the United States earlier this year. Importers increased their orders ahead of new tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on European Union wines. These tariffs have added uncertainty for French wine producers and highlighted the need for champagne makers to diversify their markets.

Industry representatives say that expanding into new markets is now a priority. They point to ongoing trade negotiations between the European Union and countries such as those in South America’s Mercosur bloc and India as potential opportunities for growth. Producers hope that new trade agreements will help offset weaker demand in traditional markets and provide fresh momentum for champagne exports.

Despite current challenges, many growers remain hopeful that this year’s high-quality harvest will help restore some enthusiasm for champagne among consumers worldwide. For now, producers are watching market trends closely as they prepare for what they hope will be a successful release of the 2025 vintage.