Prosecco has moved ahead of Champagne in French supermarket bottle sales. But before we declare a national change of allegiance, we need to look at the receipt. This is a comparison of volumes in one retail channel, over a specific period, with a very small gap between the two.
What do the sales figures actually show?
Rayon Boissons reported Circana’s figures on 8 September. They cover the twelve months ending July 2026, in French large-scale retail excluding hard discount.
| Wine | Bottles sold | Change from the previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Prosecco | 25.31 million | +10.1% |
| Champagne | 25.23 million | -4.6% |
The difference is 80,000 bottles. Calculated against Champagne’s volume, that is roughly 0.3%. The contrasting growth rates tell us more about direction than the narrow lead does.
This is not a new November sales release. Le Figaro Vin brought the comparison back into the news on 10 November, highlighting accessible prices and the popularity of the spritz.
Does that mean Prosecco is worth more than Champagne?
No. Bottle volumes are not sales revenue. The figures above also do not measure restaurants, specialist wine merchants or direct purchases from producers. They cannot tell us which wine France prefers in every setting, let alone which tastes better.
For a different measure of scale, the Comité Champagne reported 266 million bottles shipped worldwide in 2025. That is a different period, geography and transaction stage. Putting it beside supermarket sales as though the two were interchangeable would create a misleading comparison.
We have explored that distinction in our coverage of Champagne shipments and the French market.
The question for Champagne is about occasions
Our reading is that wine producers should pay attention to the shopping decision behind these numbers. What gets opened for an ordinary Friday dinner? What goes into a cocktail? What feels like a reasonable bottle to bring when friends invite you over?
Those questions are more useful than turning two wine regions into opposing teams. A shopper can enjoy Prosecco one evening and buy grower Champagne the next. A supermarket basket records a purchase, not a permanent loyalty.
For us, the practical takeaway is simple: choose the bottle for the occasion and your budget. If you want to understand your own preference, taste the wines side by side and describe what you enjoy before checking the labels. Our guide to tasting wine is a good place to start. No winner’s podium required.
Frequently asked questions
Has Prosecco overtaken Champagne in all French wine sales?
No. The reported comparison measures bottle volumes in French supermarkets and hypermarkets excluding hard discount, for the year ending July 2026.
