France becomes Prosecco’s third-largest export market
Prosecco sales climbed by 1.1% in 2025, with 667 million bottles exported worldwide. Despite its reputation for consuming its own sparkling wines, France emerged as the DOC’s third-largest export market.
Exports of the Italian fizz to France grew by 21.1%, placing it behind only the United States and the UK in Prosecco DOC’s global rankings. This bucks assumptions that wine drinkers in the Mediterranean country favour their own sparklings, Champagnes and Crémants. Growth was significant too, up 21.1%.
The figures come as Prosecco closed 2025 with global sales of 667 million bottles, a 1.1% increase on the previous year. Total sales were valued at €3.6bn (£3.1bn), with more than 82% of production exported to 164 countries.
Giancarlo Guidolin, president of the Prosecco DOC Consortium, said the results reflected resilience in a difficult economic climate. “In a complex global context, the supply chain has demonstrated unity. Sustainability, consumer protection and value remain our priorities.”
He added: “The data confirms the resilience of our denomination in a year characterised by major instability in the global economy. Our Denomination has demonstrated its strength thanks to the shared commitment of the entire supply chain – winegrowers, winemakers and sparkling wine producers.”
Largest export markets
The United States remained Prosecco’s largest market, accounting for 23.8% of exports, with volumes up 8% despite tariff pressures. The UK, fuelled by the popularity of the Spritz cocktail, retained its position as the second-largest market, recording 1.1% growth year on year.
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Wine journalist Britt Karlsson has suggested that Prosecco’s success in France may be driven by its lower price point, a younger image and its association with casual drinking occasions. Others argue it reflects a broader shift among younger consumers looking for alternatives to traditional domestic sparkling wines.
The rise of Prosecco comes as Champagne consumption in France remains under strain. Between January and June 2025, domestic shipments fell to 41 million bottles, down 5.2% on the same period a year earlier, continuing a 20-year decline. Industry body Comité Champagne has previously blamed inflation for thwarted demand (Bloomberg).
Champagne under strain
In 2023, Matteo Lunelli, CEO of Gruppo Lunelli, argued that Prosecco and Champagne’s respective success actually complemented one another: “The former acts in the market by leverage the ease of access to consumption, the appeal of ‘Italianness’ and its competitive price, drinkability and immediacy,” he told db. “The latter does so on its history, on the exclusivity of the experience due to the greater economic value of the bottle.”
Moreover, Zonin CEO Pietro Mattioni pointed out that the occasion for either fizz is distinct: Prosecco suits a “relaxed environment” while Champagne is picked for more serious affairs.
While Champagne and Prosecco are often seen as serving different occasions, France’s growing imports suggest that foreign sparkling wines are playing an increasingly important role in a market once dominated by domestic producers.
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