FranceAgriMer reports prosecco surge in French bars as champagne slips

On 25 August 2026, FranceAgriMer, the French state agency that monitors agricultural and food markets, published figures on sparkling wine sales in France. They showed Italian prosecco gaining ground sharply in bars and restaurants, while purchases of champagne fell.

The data pointed to a shift in everyday drinking habits. Prosecco, made mainly in the Veneto and Friuli regions of north-eastern Italy, is usually much cheaper than champagne, and it is widely used in spritz-style cocktails that have become popular on French terraces. Champagne, by contrast, has faced higher prices and weaker demand from cost-conscious consumers.

The report mattered because champagne is a symbol of French identity and a major export, and the French on-trade (bars, cafés and restaurants) has long been one of its showcases. Seeing an Italian rival advance there raised questions for champagne houses and growers about pricing and positioning. It also set the stage for later reports that prosecco had begun to outsell champagne in French supermarkets as well.