Champagne Christmas: bubbly’s back but price puts a cork in it

After two years of champagne shortages during Christmas, Sydney’s supply of fizz won’t be drying up this silly season. But don’t spill any!

It’s finally time to pop the bubbly – after two years of champagne shortages during the festive season, Sydney’s supply of fizz won’t be drying up this silly season.

But don’t spill any, because prices are set to be 20 per cent higher for most of the big brands.

While big name suppliers like Dan Murphys confirmed there will plenty of champagne stock on shelves, Camperdown Cellars managing director Rip Viropoulos issued a price warning.

Worldwide cost increases for champagne were significant and passed on in early 2023 – the regular 3-5 per cent annual increases of the past were smashed with wholesale increases as high as 20 per cent being passed on overnight,” he said.

“This meant regular prices of our most popular lines like Moet & Chandon NV move from $59.99 to $74.99, and Veuve Clicquot NV move from $69.99 to $94.99.

“We have never been forced to apply such dramatic increases.”

Emperor Champagne CEO Kyla Kirkpatrick with a ceremonial sword used for dramatically opening a bottle of the good stuff.

He said sales were down 40 per cent in September. “Sparkling wine sales have increased in value in the same period by 20 per cent – this unfortunately shows our customers are avoiding champagne, and they are not buying more Sparkling wine as replacement,” said Viropoulos, whose Camperdown Cellars was awarded best liquor store in the country at the Australian Liquor Industry Awards this week.

Rip Viropoulos, the managing director of Camperdown Cellars.

“The average item sale value for champagne now is around $95. In 2022, that was $76.”

Kyla Kirkpatrick, the CEO of Emperor Champagne, told The Sunday Telegraph that while champagne shortages weren’t an issue this year, “considered consumption” will be. “I think we have a two speed market a present with strong purchasing of rarities and big formats at the top end of the market and the mid tier looking for value and a diversification of brand purchasing,” said Kirkpatrick, who is also known as “The Champagne Dame’”.

Sophia Shannon, Jennifer Sacks and Maddy Forbes at Shell House roof bar. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“Our top sellers outright by brands in the last three months were Perrier Jouet, Nicolas Feuillatte and Bollinger – these are not the big brands like Clicquot and Moet as we have seen in previous years.”

Marc Phillips from cellars.com.au said the fall in the Australian dollar this year against the euro had increased prices of imported champagnes.

“Also, people are switching to cheaper domestic wines and sparkling as the higher interest rates bite – Moscato seems to be flavour of the month too,” he said.

Dan Murphy’s director of merchandise Tim Carroll said sparkling and champagne represented almost one in three bottles sold during Christmas week.

“We know that as customers adapt to changes in the cost of living they will look to broaden their basket of goods but still capitalise on sociable moments,” he said.

“We have a broad range of champagne across different price points to cater for different budgets and occasions.

“Alternatively, there are great premium Australian Sparkling wines that rival champagne, if customers want to support local products.”