Demand for champagne doesn't stop high street discounting

In spite of the fact that demand for champagne is soaring and the French are looking to extend their vineyards to keep up with it, UK retailers still seem to be slashing the prices of their festive fizz.

You can’t walk into a supermarket without seeing half-price bubbly offers or huge savings. Tesco, for instance, has halved Andre Carpentier NV to just under a tenner, and reduced Martell Brut Prestige Champagne by £10, bringing the price down to £13.99.

At Majestic, there are no less than nine different Champagnes that give customers a saving of 50% if they buy two bottles. On this basis, drinkers can get a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte NV for £12.49 or the 2002 vintage for £15.99, while Heidsieck Gold Top Vintage 2002 works out at just £14.99.

Threshers has been blanketly emailing vouchers to On Taste wine club members entitling them to 40% off its champagnes. Since the company has been advertising that the vouchers are also available for people to download from their website, this basically makes the offer open to everyone. With a voucher in hand, the price of Taittinger Brut NV drops to £17.99 a bottle.

And the list goes on!

The UK is the biggest importer of champagne in the world and this Christmas consumers aren’t going to have to go far to get a bargain.