why is champange so expensive compaired to wine?

Answer 1

Basically-It costs more to produce.

Answer 2

Frankly - because champagne producers are the biggest bullies in the global commercial community. And that is the opinion shared by some of the most famous wine experts (Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke). You cannot find a champagne below 16-17 pounds per bottle, while for example the really pleasant sparkling Lindauer costs 7-8 pounds only because it is being made in New Zealand and not France. The champagne makers are just cashing on on the name. Try to put the name "champagne" on anything other than a bottle of bubbly from around Reims and you'll have heavy handed lawyers knocking on your door in no time. That is why you find the phrase "made with traditional method" rather than "made with the champagne method" on bottles of sparkling wine from places outside Champagne. The best example of their bullying tactics:

For decades there has been a village in Switzerland called Champagne which was making wines. 4 years ago Switzerland signed bilateral trade agreements with EU. Influenced by the champagne lobby the Swiss had to agree that even the address of this Swiss village (which includes its name, of course) would not appear on the bottles of the wine made there.

So my advice would be: unless you go for those expensive vintage champagnes, try the very good alternatives from New Zealand, California, Australia, or even better - the Cava from Spanish Catalunya (which used to be a very popular alternative even at some of the noblest European courts in 19th Century). It is not entirely a Fairtrade commitment, but could still give the right message to the right places.

Answer 3

Hi!
Champagne comes from a certain type of grape in the Champagne region of France. If it comes from anywhere else, it's called a sparkling wine. The reason why it's so expensive is because the fermenting or ageing process as it is also known, is extremely long for a good bottle of Champagne (most decent champagnes will be 20 or more years old, with some being over 100!). Also, the type of grape needed is a hybrid grape, so tonnes of cross-breeding and testing takes place in a vineyard to make sure that the grape is the right type, which takes a lot of time and effort.
Hope this helps!
Luv
Metia
XO

Answer 4

The grapes used to make champange are the hardest to grow.

Since the French won their law case, only bubbly wine from the champagne region in france can call itself champagne, this hiked the price still further

Answer 5

i certainly agree with most of the above, but don't be fooled by the person who thinks asti spumante tastes as good as champagne!! Also, cava's and NZ sparling wines were mentioned, but don't forget the great french sparling wines...& by the way don't know about the prices in the USA, but in U.K its pricey to buy in a shop, but the mark ups by reasturants and bars are ridiculous. Also, where I live in Portugal I can buy a decent champagne for 10-11€, & its imported!

Answer 6

Because only bubbly wine from the Champagne district in France can be called Champagne, so they can drive up the prices... other bubbly wines are also enjoyable, so if ya don't wanna spend the dough for the original... ;)

Answer 7

I go to Italy a lot and they drink Prosecco...it is very similar to champagne and much much cheaper. You can buy it in Tescos or Sainsburys... a very good bottle is about £7.
I really recommend you try a bottle.

Answer 8

.... bit of a rip off really when you think about it 'cus all those bubbles must take up volume in the bottle and hence you dont get the same quantity as you would in a normal 'flat' bottle of wine ...... disgraceful behaviour by those Frenchies!

Answer 9

If it wasnt so expensive, it wouldnt be so popular.
People buy 'Champagne' rather than (for example) 'Asti Spumante' because snobbery wins out over taste

Answer 10

Because more effort has gone into making it and more importantly people are willing to pay more for it.