Coming To A Wedding Near You: Boozier Champagne

France’s hottest summer ever is hitting winemakers right in the grapes, making it harder to produce Champagne that meets the strict classification regulations set by French authorities. So, officials are making an exception this year and allowing the drink to have a higher alcohol content. In other words, boozy brunch just got boozier.

• FYI: This specifically impacts just the grapes from the Champagne region of France, not all sparkling wine everywhere.

Growing ’pagne: Thanks to record temperatures and drought, grape growers had to harvest their crop earlier than ever, leaving them with a fruit that had way higher sugar levels than normal. Thanks to the magic of fermentation, more sugar equals more alcohol. And since winemakers have to ferment Champagne long enough to get those signature bubbles, French authorities are allowing the drink’s alcohol limit to reach up to 15% for products made from this year’s harvest, instead of the usual 13%.

Nevertheless, few Champagne producers are expected to exceed 13%, since many can cut this year’s batch with last year’s. But volume is still going to be a problem. According to Bloomberg:

• Champagne production is estimated to fall by 48% this year.
• And it’s not just Champagne—overall wine output in France is set to drop by 6% compared to last year.

Bubble trouble: Because of climate change, growing seasons like this could be normal in 10 to 15 years, Maxime Toubart, co-chairman of the Comité Champagne trade association, told Agence France-Presse.—BC

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