Has Champagne Reached a Tipping Point?

The 2026 vintage has told the story of Champagne's past, present, and possible future in a single growing season.

Blind-tasting Champagne during my WSET D4 class earlier this summer.

When I began studying the Champagne chapter of my WSET Diploma this summer, I expected to spend most of my time memorizing facts.

Champagne is a cool climate. Average growing season temperatures sit around 14.5°C. Annual rainfall averages approximately 700 mm. Over the past three decades…