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Champagne benefits from warm weather and wedding fever
Champagne sales in the UK are benefitting from the upcoming string of long weekends, warm weather and planned Royal Wedding parties on 29 April, according to Bordeaux Index.
The London-based fine wine merchant has recorded a three-fold increase in March sales of Champagne to total 400 cases, with Pol Roger a particular beneficiary of the sudden rise in demand.
“Unusually warm weather has added to the holiday feeling here in the UK,” said Bordeaux Index sales director Sam Gleave.
“One client has splashed out on 20 cases of Pol Roger NV in magnum for one particularly high-end street party,” he added.
He also recorded a demand for lesser vintages and second wines from Bordeaux ahead of the en primeur campaign.
“The best selling vintage of the month was 2006, with sales of nearly £750,000, showing that the vintage is becoming more approachable and is offering great value for money,” he remarked.
“Another winner this month was the second wine of Chåteau Pavie, Les Aromes de Pavie, with sales of 100 cases of the 2006 vintage.”
Meanwhile, The Centre for Retail Research has estimated that the retail gain from the royal wedding could be as much as £527 million, with the extra spending on food and drink potentially reaching £156.5m.
It estimates that the uplifts are likely to be from the sale of 0.5m bottles of Champagne, 3.5m commemorative mugs and pieces of pottery, 5m coins and tokens, 360,000 extra tourists, and "lots of flags".
Patrick Schmitt, 21.04.2011