Next Friday, October 21, is the seventh annual global #ChampagneDay, so get prepared to break out the bottles.
Of course, every day should be Champagne Day. Not only does it work great with a ton of foods, from seafood and cheeses to popcorn and potato chips, but it also hits the spot after a long day. More importantly, it's appreciating in value again, according to the London International Vintners Exchange, the Liv-ex, which is a global fine wine marketplace.
After a bunch of slow years, Champagne actually is positioned to grow faster than its Bordeaux brethren, which we wrote about here. The Liv-ex Champagne 25, which is a index of 25 of the world's best Champagnes, has hit new highs in last three months. It's up 5.6%, since end of May, vs. the S&P 500, which is up 2.6% over the same period. The Champagne 25 was only up 4.7% from May 2013 to May 2016. So why the sudden movement?
Believe it or not, the market got a "Brexit boost," says the Liv-ex. "The weakened euro enticed buyers back into the market."
And certain vintages are starting to drink beautifully. "The 2002 vintage actually makes your leg shake," says David White, author of But First, Champagne, a modern guide to all things Champagne. Same goes for the 2004. The Asian market has a renewed interest in Champagne as well, especially since it pairs perfectly with seafood and spice. So before the demand blows the roof off prices, its worth a look.
