The permitted harvest yields in the Champagne region are being increased for 2010: an indication the crisis may be over.

The Champagne association UMC has decided to permit a harvest yield of 10.500 kilograms of grapes per hectare, 700 kilograms more than last year. The decision is a strong indicator champagne sales are increasing again. Sales predictions for 2010 are for 315 million bottles, 20 million more than in 2009. Production in 2010 is expected to show a marked increase. According to Ghislain de Montgolfier, head of the Union des Maisons de Champagne, the crisis is a thing of the past as far as champagne is concerned. (WF)