Inflated Bubbly
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It usually starts right before Thanksgiving, there’s a huge increase in demand for Champagne, not just in stores but in restaurants and bars. This increase in demand puts incredible pressure on Champagne prices. Avoid the price hike. If in December you’re thirsting for a popular brand like Veuve Clicquot, choose a high-volume, warehouse-style store. Distributors try to get a premium in December, but larger stores that have the space and the buying power buy in September or October, when they can take advantage of the lower cost. Smaller stores that don’t have room to store the stuff and may not have the budget to buy in advance have to pay more and therefore charge more.

