Champagne Sales Fizz Despite Crunch

Winston Churchill apparently once said: "Between a crisis and a catastrophe, there's always time for a glass of Champagne."

Brits guzzled their way through 36 million bottles of champagne last year

Wise words and perhaps the reason behind Britain being the biggest export market for the bubbly stuff, even during our worst financial crisis in decades.

Last year the UK imported 36 million bottles of champagne... that's a lot of weddings, bar mitzvahs and births.

Far, far behind us is the USA in second place, importing just 17 million bottles. For a small island, we consume a great deal of champagne.

Possibly as a tribute to that, The Champagne Bureau held its annual tasting in London this year.

While quaffing a Bollinger 2000, its Vice President Ghislain De Montgolfier told me: "It's a way of life for you, you like to celebrate.

"Champagne was invented in England remember. Imagine James Bond without Bollinger? You can't imagine it!"

But of course, there hasn't been much to celebrate recently.

Unemployment passing the 2 million mark; house prices falling through the floor and thousands of companies going into administration.

Champagne Bureau's Vice President

It could be put down to escapism, but somehow the official drink of celebration is still doing well. Although the recession hasn't passed champagne by completely. Last year there was a drop of almost eight percent in shipments to Britain.

"Sure we're hit by the recession," Ghislain De Montgolfier retorts.

"Many people working in the city were made redundant, they were good buyers. But I think people still drink champagne, because you have big problem so what is a bottle of champagne?"

Also more people are buying and drinking at home so sales in the supermarkets are increasing. We can manage this crisis better than your government!"

Looking at the figures, the industry certainly seems to be doing that.

But consumption here in Britain is nothing compared to the indulgence of the French.

Support of their own product is staggering with 181 million bottles of champagne being drunk in the country last year.