Business · Companies · 8 hrs ago
Champagne growers abandon plan to expand the appellation area
Champagne growers have abandoned a plan to expand the protected production area in northeastern France.
The proposal began in 2003 and aimed to review which places could produce wine labelled Champagne.
The current area covers 319 communes, mostly in the Marne department, as well as parts of four other departments.
The growers’ union says climate change, economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and changing consumption have made the review no longer appropriate.
Champagne sales fell for a third straight year in 2025, while this summer’s harvest began unusually early after heat sped up grape ripening.
The harvest was about half the size of the 2025 crop and the five-year average.
The union will inform France’s national origin and quality institute, which had been working on the project with it.
Champagne’s growers’ union has abandoned a plan to expand the area covered by the Champagne appellation.
The plan, launched in 2003, was intended in part to secure the boundaries of areas suitable for Champagne production.
The union said climate change, economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and changing consumption had made completing the review inappropriate.
The appellation currently covers 319 communes, mainly in the Marne department.
Champagne sales fell for a third consecutive year in 2025, while this summer’s harvest was the earliest on record.
- Who
- The Champagne growers’ union, known as the SGV, abandoned the plan.
- What
- It dropped a project to expand the area covered by the Champagne appellation.
- When
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- The Champagne appellation area in France, currently spread across 319 communes.
- Why
- The SGV said climate change, economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and changing consumption had altered conditions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The project to review the Champagne appellation area was launched.
Champagne sales fell for a third consecutive year in France and abroad.
Repeated heatwaves helped bring about the earliest Champagne harvest on record, starting in early August.
The Champagne growers’ union abandoned the expansion plan.
- Current appellation area
- 319 communes
- Project launched
- 2003
- Plan abandoned
- October 21, 2026
- Sales trend
- 2025 marked the third consecutive annual decline in France and abroad
- Harvest timing
- Began in early August, the earliest on record
- Harvest size
- Half the size of the 2025 harvest and the five-year average
What people are saying
we considered that it was not appropriate to complete a review today (...) in a context that has changed on all fronts