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As the UK gears up to trigger Article 50 next week, a new report shows the extent of damage inflicted on Champagne sales in Britain by a 'sudden' fall in the pound sterling currency amid the Brexit vote. Below, see charts based on Comité Champagne data to show which country drank the most in 2016.

Scroll down to see the charts

Fewer Britons celebrated with Champagne in 2016 and Champagne houses themselves made less money from one of their premier export markets, shows the full export report from the Comité Champagne.

As previously reported by Decanter.com, Champagne exports to the UK dropped by around 9% in volume in 2016 versus 2015, the Comité Champagne confirmed at the ProWein trade show in Germany.

New figures released this week show that the value of exports flowing across the English Channel dropped more sharply last year, by 14% to 440.3 million euros.

Total Champagne sales fell by 2% globally, to 306 million bottles, also hit by a 2.5% decline in France – which still constitutes around half of the overall market. In value terms, global Champagne sales reached 4.71 billion euros last year, only just short of the record of 4.74bn euros set in 2015.

Rosé Champagne has done particularly well, the Comité Champagne said.

See the chart below to find out the biggest markets for Champagne in 2016, based on Comité Champagne data. Below that, see the 2016 Champagne ‘form table’, showing the biggest risers in terms of bottles.

Biggest Risers

Updated 22/03/2017

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.