France lifts alcohol content limit on champagne after record heatwaves

Europe Climate Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:58:09 GMT High confidence — 78/100

The temporary increase in champagne's alcohol content is only expected to affect a small number of wines, a spokeswoman for the Comite Champagne told the BBC.
During the second fermentation process, which gives champagne its bubbles, "a very small number of wines from this harvest could have slightly exceeded the regulatory limit of 13%, reaching around 13.1% or 13.2%".
"Therefore a decision was made to exceptionally and temporarily increase the regulatory limit to 15% - only for this year," she said.

The temporary increase in champagne's alcohol content is only expected to affect a small number of wines, a spokeswoman for the Comite Champagne told the BBC.
During the second fermentation process, which gives champagne its bubbles, "a very small number of wines from this harvest could have slightly exceeded the regulatory limit of 13%, reaching around 13.1% or 13.2%".
"Therefore a decision was made to exceptionally and temporarily increase the regulatory limit to 15% - only for this year," she said.

Sources: BBC News