Waitrose Cellar sells Champagne by the bottle

Waitrose is to sell single bottles of Champagne on its by-the-case website for the first time.

Consumers will be able to order single bottles from a range of Champagnes and English Sparkling wines priced over £29.99, with free standard delivery, Waitrose confirmed.

It is part of a new page on the retailers’ wine-by-the-case site, Champagne Shop, which follows the launch of the whisky shop. Some of the brands available as single bottle orders include Pol Roger, Bollinger and Taittingerr as well as English sparkling wines Nyetimber, Ridgeview and the retailer’s own vineyard, Leckford Estate. Highlights include Black Dog Hill Classic Cuvée 2011 South Downs from Westmeston in Ditchling, Piollot Cuvée ‘Val Colas Robin’ 2012 Brut Nature Champagne, which is available exclusively online, and Fleury Extra Brut 2002.

Waitrose Cellar Buyer Xenia Irwin MW said the move would allow it to extend the retailers range with more Growers’ Champagnes and premium wines and give greater choice for special occasions.

“This is already showing a positive effect on our Champagne sales and encouraging more customers into the category,” she said. “We have a huge range of fizz to suit all occasions – vintage, non vintage and iconic brands of Champagne and sparkling wine are all available on Waitrose Cellar.”

In October, the retailer reported sales of champagne sales up 18% in the year to date, which it said bucked a wider market trend, driven by sale of own label champagne. It also saw sales of English sparkling wine rose 188% during 2015.