Sales of rosé Champagne have fallen in the last 12 months – despite the annual Valentine’s Day and Christmas peaks.

Overall rosé sales in the off-trade were down by 8% in both volume and value in 2008.

Rosé Champagne accounts for over 12% of total UK sales – about 3m bottles a year.

The fall is despite the latest figures on the UK Champagne market showing pink Champagne sales jumping around February 14 and just before Christmas.

Weekly sales in the off-trade are usually just above or below 2,000 cases. In early February and December they leap to close on 10,000 cases a week.

The UK market has been the largest for rosé Champagne styles, growing for several years at a rate of over 20%.

Written by Giles Fallowfield

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Giles Fallowfield
Giles Fallowfield
Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer & Champagne Expert

Giles Fallowfield is a wine journalist who specialises in Champagne. He has been writing about the region and its wines for over 20 years, appearing in Decanter, Harpers, The Times, The Financial Times and The Drinks Business – to name a few. Via his website, Champagne Guru, he offers tutored tastings, education programmes, buying advice and wine tours.