The world’s Champagne capitals: countries and cities that love Champagne most

Champagne has long been associated with France, celebration and special occasions, but its home is only one part of the story. Today, bottles of Champagne are shipped to more than 200 destinations around the world, finding their way onto restaurant tables, into hotel bars, private celebrations and Champagne lists in cities far beyond the French borders.

So where does the world love Champagne most?

The latest figures from the Comité Champagne give us a good place to start. In 2025, 266.1 million bottles of Champagne were shipped worldwide, with around 114 million bottles going to the French market and almost 152 million bottles exported to international markets.

But numbers only tell part of the story. Some cities have developed their own Champagne culture, with dedicated Champagne bars, restaurants with impressive Champagne lists and hotels where a glass of Champagne feels perfectly at home.

Here are some of the countries and cities where Champagne has found a particularly strong following.

Which countries drink the most Champagne?

France remains the largest Champagne market by a considerable margin. In 2025, approximately 114.1 million bottles were shipped to the French market. That represents 42.9% of total Champagne shipments for the year.

Outside France, the United States leads the world in Champagne imports, followed by the United Kingdom and Japan.

The top Champagne export markets in 2025 were:

These figures measure Champagne shipments rather than the number of glasses actually consumed. They are nevertheless the clearest way to compare the size of Champagne markets around the world.

1. France

France is still at the heart of the Champagne world.

Around 114 million bottles were shipped to the French market in 2025, making France by far the largest individual market.

Champagne is part of everyday French wine culture as well as celebrations. You will find it at aperitif time, on restaurant wine lists, in luxury hotels and at occasions ranging from weddings to business dinners.

And, of course, France is home to the Champagne region itself.

For anyone who wants to understand Champagne beyond the bottle, a visit to Reims, Épernay and the surrounding vineyards offers a very different experience from simply ordering a glass in a restaurant.

2. United States

The United States is the world’s largest export market for Champagne.

In 2025, 26.5 million bottles were shipped to the US, with a value of approximately €689 million excluding taxes.

Champagne has a particularly visible presence in major American cities, where it appears across fine dining, luxury hotels, cocktail bars and dedicated Champagne venues.

New York City is an obvious example. Its restaurant and bar scene has embraced Champagne in everything from casual glasses at the bar to extensive vintage and prestige-cuvée lists.

Los Angeles, Miami and other major cities also have a strong Champagne presence, particularly in luxury hospitality and nightlife.

3. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has one of the world’s longest relationships with Champagne outside France.

In 2025, the UK received 22.7 million bottles, making it the second-largest export market.

London is at the centre of that culture. Champagne appears throughout the city, from historic hotels and classic restaurants to modern wine bars and afternoon tea.

For visitors looking for Champagne in London, the choice ranges from a simple glass at a hotel bar to serious Champagne lists featuring grower Champagnes, vintage bottles and prestige cuvées.

4. Japan

Japan is one of Champagne’s most important markets, with 13.3 million bottles shipped there in 2025.

Tokyo is a natural focal point for Champagne lovers. The city’s restaurant culture places considerable attention on food and wine pairings, and Champagne can be found across high-end restaurants, hotel bars and specialist wine venues.

Japan’s appreciation of Champagne also extends well beyond major celebrations. The combination of Champagne with Japanese cuisine creates plenty of opportunities to explore different styles and pairings.

5. Germany, Belgium and Italy

Germany, Belgium and Italy each received between 7.8 and 9.6 million bottles in 2025, placing all three among the world’s largest Champagne export markets.

Their Champagne cultures have different personalities.

In Germany, Champagne sits alongside a strong sparkling-wine culture and a sophisticated restaurant scene.

Belgium’s proximity to France makes Champagne particularly accessible, and Brussels is an easy city for Champagne lovers to explore.

Italy has its own famous sparkling wines, but Champagne continues to have a strong presence in cities such as Milan and Rome, particularly in fine dining and luxury hospitality.

The cities where Champagne shines

Country-level shipment figures are relatively straightforward to compare. Cities are different.

There is no official global ranking showing exactly how many bottles of Champagne are consumed in Paris, London, New York or Tokyo. Consumption data is generally published by country rather than individual city.

That means a city’s Champagne reputation is better understood through its restaurants, bars, hotels, wine culture and the number of places where you can actually order a great bottle.

And this is where things get interesting.

Paris

Paris is an obvious Champagne capital.

The city combines French Champagne culture with one of the world’s greatest concentrations of restaurants, wine bars and luxury hotels. Champagne can be part of a long lunch, an aperitif, an evening at a Michelin-starred restaurant or simply a glass enjoyed while watching Paris go by.

For Champagne lovers, Paris also makes a natural base for travelling onwards to the Champagne region.

Reims

Reims is one of the essential cities for anyone interested in Champagne.

Located in the heart of the Champagne region, it is home to major Champagne Houses and sits close to some of the region’s most important vineyards.

Here, Champagne is more than something on a wine list. It is part of the landscape, local economy and identity of the city.

Épernay

If Reims is one of the major urban gateways to Champagne, Épernay takes you even closer to the heart of the region.

The famous Avenue de Champagne runs through the city, with Champagne Houses and kilometres of underground cellars beneath the streets.

For anyone planning a Champagne-focused trip, Épernay belongs high on the list.

London

London deserves its place among the world’s great Champagne cities.

The city has a deep relationship with Champagne and an enormous hospitality scene, meaning there are countless ways to enjoy it.

From grand hotels to intimate wine bars, London offers Champagne for almost every kind of occasion.

New York City

New York brings Champagne into a very different setting.

The city’s restaurants, hotels and bars have helped make Champagne part of its modern dining and nightlife culture. Search for Champagne in New York and you will find everything from dedicated Champagne bars to restaurants where the wine list deserves as much attention as the food.

Tokyo

Tokyo’s Champagne culture fits naturally into its detailed approach to dining.

Champagne can appear alongside sushi, kaiseki, French cuisine and contemporary tasting menus. The city also has a strong luxury hotel and bar scene, giving Champagne plenty of room to shine.

Milan

Milan is another European city where Champagne fits effortlessly into the lifestyle.

The city has a strong aperitivo culture, a sophisticated restaurant scene and a natural interest in fashion, design and luxury. Champagne appears across all of these worlds.

Dubai

Dubai has developed into one of the world’s major luxury hospitality destinations, and Champagne is very much part of that scene.

Luxury hotels, rooftop venues, restaurants and high-end lounges have made the city an interesting destination for Champagne lovers looking for something very different from the traditional European Champagne experience.

What makes a Champagne capital?

Being a major Champagne market is only one part of the picture.

A true Champagne capital has places where people can discover Champagne in different ways: a glass at a bar, a bottle with dinner, a tasting with friends or a special vintage saved for a memorable evening.

That is why cities such as Paris, London, New York and Tokyo are so interesting to Champagne lovers. Their Champagne scenes are shaped by the people, places and experiences around the wine.

And that is exactly what we are interested in at Champagne Hunters.

Find Champagne wherever you go

Champagne culture has travelled a long way from the vineyards of northeastern France.

From Paris and Reims to New York, London, Tokyo, Milan and beyond, Champagne continues to appear in new places and new settings.

The best part is that you don’t need to wait for a special occasion.

Whether you are looking for a Champagne bar in a new city, a restaurant with a great Champagne list or somewhere to enjoy a bottle with friends, the Champagne Hunters map helps you discover places where Champagne is part of the experience.

Explore the map, discover new Champagne spots and add your own favourites to the Champagne Hunters community.

Because wherever people gather around a good bottle, there is probably a Champagne story worth discovering.