A World Without Champagne?

LONDON, England, Aug. 13, 2007 — -- Whatever will the swills swill?

A champagne shortage has bubbly lovers in a tizzy as experts warn that it may become increasingly difficult to find a bottle of the beloved French wine.

As demand for champagne has soared across the world -- especially in emerging markets such as India, China and Russia -- producers are struggling to produce more bottles.

Three hundred million bottles of the French fizzy wine were sold last year.

To this day, the French still consume most of the world's champagne (56 percent), according to the Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, the Champagne Producers Union.

But consumers across the world are catching up.

In China, annual sales have increased thirtyfold, from 16,000 bottles to 500,000 last year, according to the Champagne Producers Union. In Japan, sales are four times greater than a decade ago, with 8 million bottles sold last year.

Last year, U.S. consumers purchased 20 million bottles of bubbly. Britain is the biggest consumer of champagne outside of France, with 36 million bottles sold last year.

"Sales of Champagne in the U.K. are skyrocketing," said Michelle Asselineau of London's Nicolas wine merchants, especially popular brands like Veuve Cliquot and Laurent Perrier.

But "supplies are tightening," warned Asselineau, "the demand is too strong. Some producers have asked us not to advertise too much for their products because they will not be able to put out enough bottles."

Among the explanations for the supply shortage is strict French regulation, which allows producers to grow champagne grapes only in a specific region. "We cannot get grapes here and there to meet the demand," said Daniel Lorson with the Champagne Producers Union.

"We can produce a little bit more, but the global demand grows faster than our production capabilities in the champagne region."

Another explanation for the scarcity is that some small producers are storing away stocks of their bottles, hoping to sell them at a better price once they retire.