Shortage????

[tomstevenson]

The "Millennium factor" is not about one night, but spans three years: 1999 as people buy in for the coming New Year, which most people shall celebrate as the New Millennium, regardless of the fact that 2001 will be the first year (as kcwhippet correctly pointed out; 2000 because it is not simply individuals getting pissed at a party, but will mean that every national, commercial, institutional and sporting event that happens to have an anniversary in 2000 will make it special; and 2001 for all those whose anniversary did not coincide with 2000 because they will celebrate the true New Millennium.

In a global sense there will be no Champagne shortage because there is enough stock to cover bumper sales in all three years. The bubbly won't run out, but specific cuvees are produced in limited quantities and always run out, so if you want a particular vintage of a certain name you should buy it when you see it. If you leave it till later, you'll probably find the next vintage available or you will have to accept a different brand.