Top 10 Dubai duty free Champagnes

Spread over an area of 8,500 acres, Dubai International Airport is the largest airport in the world and second only to Heathrow in terms of international passengers.

With a total of 65 million passengers passing through annually and as one of the major international hubs as well as the stop-off for countless long haul flights through the Middle East, Dubai Airport is a global retail behemoth.

What better way to finish our focus on international duty free sales during the TFWA World Exhibition and Conference this week than with the top 10 Champagne brands sold by value at Dubai International Airport.

Scroll through for the top value Champagnes sold at Dubai international airport by market share…

To see the top 10 travel retail brands of 2013 click here. 

10. Piper Heidseick (1.84%)

Founded in 1785 by Florens-Louis Heidseick in Reims the house was re-named Piper-Heidseick in 1838.

The house is now owned by French luxury brand company EPI.

They currently produce their NV Cuvée Brut and Rosé Sauvage as well as a vintage in good years and a prestige cuvée, the Rare Vintage, in particularly fine years with fruit harvested from specifically form Montagne de Reims.

9. Ruinart (2.31%)

The oldest champagne house in production, having been founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in Reims and currently owned by LVMH. This year Ruinart celebrated their 250th anniversary.

Renowned in particular for their 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs, Ruinart also produce non-vintage and vintage wines under the Cuvée R label as well as a rosé and two prestige cuvées, the Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and Dom Ruinart Rosé.

8. Bollinger (2.64%)

Bollinger or “Bolly” was founded in 1829 in Aÿ by Hennequin de Villermont, Paul Renaudin and Jacques Bollinger but has a history in Champagne dating back to 1585.

The house continues to be run by members of the Bollinger family.

They produce several cuvées of Champagne under the Bollinger name, including the non-vintage Special Cuvée, vintage Vieille Vignes Françaises, Grand Année and Recently Disgorged or R.D which was relaunched earlier this year.

7. Taittinger (2.89%)

Founded in 1734 and based in Reims.

On Top of their non-vintage, rosé and vintage wines the flagship wines or prestige cuvées of the house are the Comtes de Champagne  and Comtes de Champagne Rosé.

Earlier this year they launched new packaging to coincide with the FIFA World Cup.

They have also released on occasion special vintage bottles under the Taittinger Collection label.

6. Lanson (4.22%)

Lanson was founded in 1760 by a magistrate named François Delamotte. 

They have several cuvées including the non-vintage Black Label, vintage Gold Label as well as limited release wines such as its pink Wimbledon edition and even a champagne developed specifically for Disneyland Paris.

5. Louis Roederer (4.38%)

Founded in 1776 in Reims, it was inherited and renamed by Louis Roederer in 1833. It remains today as one of the only still independent Maison de Champagne.

It’s non-vintage brut and rose form the core of the collection which also includes their Carte Blanche, blanc de blancs and the renowned Cristal prestige cuvee. Their entire range received a new look earlier this year.

4. Laurent Perrier (6.53%)

The house can trace its foundation to 1812 when a former cooper and bottler by the name of Alphonse Pierlot purchased two parcels of land named “Plaisances” and “La Tour Glorieux” in Tours-sur-Marne.

On top of the standard releases Laurent Perrier are well known for their recognisable rosé and their prestige cuvée, the Grande Siècle.

As of this year they are working in a partnership with the Chatsworth Estate.

3. Dom Perignon (10.51%)

Produced by Moët & Chandon the Dom Perignon is a stand-alone prestige cuvée named after the Benedictine monk of the same name who, contrary to popular belief, did not discover Champagne however he was responsible for the development of several new techniques including the introduction of corks as a closure instead of wood for Champagne.

The first vintage of Dom Perignon was the 1921 which went on sale in 1936 and a rosé is also produced.

Dom Perignon has a long history of collaborations with some of the worlds top restaurants including one this year with London’s Fera.

2. Veuve Cliquot (20.96%)

“Veuve” or Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin was founded in 1772 in Reims by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron and played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe through the efforts of Philippe’s son’s widow Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin or Madame Veuve (Widow in French) Clicquot who also inadvertently began the custom of sabering Champagne by giving it to soldiers during the Napoleonic wars.

The house is well known for its fierce protection of it’s trademark yellow label.

Its prestige cuvee is La Grande Dame.

1. Moët & Chandon (34%)

In first place by a huge margin and responsible for over a third of all Champagne duty-free sales in Dubai is Moët & Chandon.

Founded in 1743 by Claude Moët the company holds a royal warrant  to supply champagne to Elizabeth II and today owns more than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of vineyards and annually produces approximately 26,000,000 bottles of champagne.

One of the drinks business top Champagne brands Moët has established vineyards in countries around the world including Australia, Argentina and China under the Chandon label.

Apart from the Dom Perignon at number three on this list Moët also produce a broad range of wines including their Brut Impérial.