D4 missing info

Question 1

Champagne trends

Answer 1

There is a small, niche market for Brut Nature wines sold primarily in specialist wine shops and restaurants that have a considerable selection of Champagnes.

• The two driest categories, Brut Nature and Extra Brut, have gained ground. Both grew by more than a third in sales in the decade to 2018.9 Interest in these styles in the domestic hospitality sector has also grown.
• At the other end of the sweetness scale, major Champagne houses have launched sweet wines that are intended to be drunk over ice and in cocktails. This trend was started by Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial that is Demi-Sec and has been heavily promoted in the upmarket travel sector.
• Rosé Champagne is increasingly in demand in line with the demand for rosé in general. This is reflected by the investment made by the two biggest brands, Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot, both in production facilities for making red wine and in marketing. The percentage of rosé Champagne shipments has increased from 3 per cent to approximately 10 per cent since the beginning of the century.
• At the top of the market, in terms of price, there is increased interest in single-vineyard Champagnes. This is not new, as Philipponnat launched Clos des Goisses in 1935 and Krug’s first vintage of Clos du Mesnil was the 1979 vintage. However, the trend for single- vineyard wines has increased during the course of this century and has allowed producers the opportunity to achieve higher prices for their wines.
• Grower champagnes continue to attract increasing interest. The fruit is grown and the complete winemaking process is carried out by the same, often small, company. The grower is free to allow marked variations (varieties, blends, vintage or non-vintage) in wines from year to year. Significant examples can be found in all subregions including Domaine Jacques Selosse (Côte des Blancs), Champagne Jacquesson (Montagne des Reims) and Champagne Drappier (Côte des Bar).