There is untapped potential for Champagne in Australia according to fine wine marketplace Langton’s.

Australia has continually landed in the top 10 markets for Champagne globally according to Comite Champagne and also holds one of the highest per-capita consumptions outside Europe. Despite this affinity Australians have with the French wine region, there is still when it comes to the secondary market.

Overseas, Champagne is experiencing exceptional growth in the secondary market to position itself as one of the most dynamic luxury wine categories fetching record prices under the hammer. While here in Australia, we have one of the lowest ex-cellar bottle values among the top ten Champagne markets globally.

However, Langton’s predicts Australia will mimic this growth in the secondary market, positioning Champagne as a key collection category for fine wine enthusiasts.

“When it comes to cellaring, Champagne is a category that deserves more of the spotlight here in Australia,” said Langtons Head of Auctions Michael Anderson.

“As we’ve seen overseas, Champagne has an impressive ageing potential which sees the wine develop with grace to place itself as a wine category regularly fetching eye-watering prices under the hammer.

“We can expect to see Champagne rise up the ranks in the secondary market here in Australia, with savvy investors already purchasing sought-after bottles to cellar away for future auctioning.”

Avid collectors are displaying an ever-growing interest in rare cuvées, prestige bottlings, and late-disgorged releases and most recently, non-vintage (NV) Champagnes are also joining this list.

Previously, NV Champagne was not a widely recognised category in the secondary market, but with producers such as Krug and Louis Roederer providing more detailed information on its NV wines collectors are able to track and understand the value of these wines more.

“Australia holds a great love for Champagne which we’ve seen grow and grow, especially over the last two decades where imports went from 890,000 bottles in 2001 to a record-breaking 10.5 million bottles in 2022 – this is an unmatched rise compared to any other wine category,” Anderson (above) said.

“Non-vintage Champagne makes up a staggering 88-90% of Australia’s Champagne imports, and considering the momentum it’s gaining overseas under auction it’s definitely a wine category to watch here.”

This love affair is being noticed by Champagne producers, too, with the amount of producers exporting to Australia growing from 233 in 2019 to roughly 340 by 2023, encompassing leading houses, artisanal growers and cooperatives.

Champagne categories such as low-dosage, prestige and rosé are rising in popularity in Australia too, with low-dosage styles nearly doubling since 2021, and prestige cuvées now accounting for around 6% of total market value.

Langtons has also launched the largest and most diverse allocation of luxury Champagne in Australia ahead of the festive season.

Langtons Champagne Showcase features products ranging from $75 to $5500 per bottle. Highlights from the Champagne Showcase include the Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Just Rose Extra-Brut 2012; the Dom Perignon 2013 in a Gift Box; the Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Brut 2018 in a Gift Box; and the Vouette Et Sorbe Saignee de Sorbee Extra Brut NV.

“Australians have a real affinity for world-class Champagne and we’re proud here at Langtons to house the country’s largest and most diverse collection of products spanning the top, iconic houses to the emerging producers set to be the cult-status names of the future,” Anderson said.

“Champagne is a wine category seeing exceptional growth here in Australia, and also globally amongst the secondary market with prices reaching great heights under the hammer. It’s a wine that firmly holds a place amongst top collector cellars and on the lunch table for the most memorable of festive celebrations.”

Those also keen to get amongst the bidding action can also stay tuned for a dedicated Champagne auction before the end of the year. Off the back of its largest Champagne auction last year, Langtons is curating an exceptional array of any Champagne collector’s dream line-up of old and rare cuvées alongside examples from cult grower producers from the sparkling capital of the world.

Click here for more information.