Champagne, Prosecco and English Sparkling — 2026-09-27
The 2026 Champagne harvest, the earliest ever recorded, has drawn global attention: frost and heatwaves halved volumes, yet the interprofession and trade press are calling the vintage potentially outstanding, with a rare derogation allowing wines above 13% (up to 15%) alcohol. In Italy, reports from the territories describe a quality-driven harvest with volumes declining in some areas, while Champagne's August shipments showed a surprising rebound. Prosecco continues to gain ground in France's on-trade, per a new FranceAgriMer study.
Champagne, Prosecco and English Sparkling — 2026-09-27
Top developments
Champagne harvest: halved volume, "exceptional" quality
Frost and heatwaves have cut Champagne's expected 2026 harvest roughly in half, with producer associations nevertheless describing the quality of the wines as "exceptional" and even "off the charts." The commercialisable yield was set at 8,800 kg/ha — down for the fourth consecutive year — yet actual picked yields averaged around 7,000 kg/ha with historically high sugar degrees, starting a drawdown of reserve stocks to keep shelves stocked.
Record earliness reshapes the rules of Champagne
The 2026 harvest — completed in August for the first time at houses like Moët & Chandon — forced the region's rulebook to change: a temporary derogation now permits commercialisation of wines above 13% and up to 15% alcohol, a first for the appellation. Trade commentary argues 2026's "wild" harvest is forcing wine regions worldwide to rethink vineyard practices, varieties, and long-established rules in a warming climate.
Italy's 2026 vintage: quality up, volumes down in places
Italian consortia report an early, healthy harvest with overall positive quality assessments, though volumes are falling in several zones from Alto Adige to Sicily. In Piedmont, Monferrato and Astigiano report an "excellent" harvest for both quantity and quality — although one zone was devastated by hail.
Prosecco conquers French on-trade
Prosecco purchase volumes in French bars and restaurants rose 22.6% in 2025, per a FranceAgriMer study on commercial foodservice wine purchases — a 175% increase since 2019. It signals continued share pressure on Champagne in its home market's hospitality channel.
Local view
- L'Union (Reims) reported Champagne's August 2026 shipments at 17.6 million bottles (10.9m export), +15.4% vs August 2025 — a "timid rebound"
- L'Opinion noted the August-completed harvest at Moët & Chandon "rebalancing the cards" on the future of the vineyard
- Réussir Vigne highlighted a Champagne first: historically high degrees with average yields of 7,000 kg/ha despite spring frost
Context & numbers
- Champagne shipments: 107.1 million bottles in H1 2026 (+1.2% YoY), on course for roughly 269 million by year-end vs 2025's 266 million
- 2026 commercialisable yield: 8,800 kg/ha, lowest since the pandemic; production targeted around 250 million bottles
- Prosecco DOC bottled 667 million bottles in 2025 (+1.1% vs 2024)
- Global sparkling consumption reached 3.32 billion bottles in 2024, dipping slightly for the first time since 2020
- English sparkling represented 69% of UK's 10.7m bottles in 2024; UK vineyards hit 1,104 in 2025 with 4,841 ha under vine
On the radar
- Champagne Club analysis flags demand shifting toward premium cuvées and tighter supply of top wines — watch for allocation policies on vintage 2026
- Watch whether Crémant's record run (123 million bottles sold in France, per Vinetur earlier in 2026) continues into the winter season
- WineGB's annual Industry Report and harvest data are the next markers for English sparkling volumes following the heatwave-shaped 2026 UK vintage.
- Bardolino's centenary vintage (20 million bottles expected) is nearing completion in the Veneto.
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