Heatwave forces champagne appellation to allow higher alcohol content

French authorities (Inao) have granted a one-off exemption allowing champagne producers to exceed the 13% ABV limit, with some bottles reaching up to 15%, due to heatwave-driven sugar accumulation in grapes. This marks the first such deviation from the appellation's strict specifications, reflecting climate change's direct impact on a premium agricultural product. The move signals potential long-term shifts in production standards and could affect champagne's market positioning and pricing.