Prosecco is officially the new Champagne. A recent study has revealed for the first time in history Italian prosecco is now beating French Champagne in the sale ranks. According to stats from US research company IRI, sales of prosecco jumped 72% in value to £339 million in the year to mid-July, while sales of Champagne rose just 1.2% year-on-year, with total sales worth £250 million.
When measured by volume, prosecco had already outstripped Champagne, but there was a 78% rise in the volume of prosecco sold in the U.K., amounting to 37.3 million litres, compared to a 0.4 percent drop in Champagne to just 9.8 million litres, said The Telegraph.
Toby Magill an IRI alcoholic drinks analyst said, ‘Prosecco is a fashionable drink that provides a cheaper and excellent quality alternative to Champagne. It’s no wonder that it now outpaces Champagne in value as well as volume and is being chosen above Champagne at weddings.’
We all know the price difference between champers and prosecco has a little something to do with the surge in its popularity - times are tight, after all - but now that our nation's favourite fizzy wine has reached new heights, we hope the Italian vineyards keeping up with the thirst.
