Australian champagne consumption is buoyant, but take a closer look at what we’re drinking and you might get a surprise. We love champagne, but we’re not nearly as adventurous in our tastes as most other champagne markets around the world. Recent patterns of Australian champagne drinking reveal some disturbing trends, and considerable potential for tastes to diversify and mature.

Australia’s love affair with champagne has been on a honeymoon adventure for more than a decade. In 2001, we popped less than 900,000 bottles of champagne. Last year, we popped more than 6 million. This places Australia among the fastest growing champagne markets in the world, with a growth rate pipped only by China and Russia (though in real term, Australia’s growth is more substantial, since China and Russia each consumes but a quarter the volume of champagne of Australia).

Australia is now the seventh largest champagne market in the world, and equal fifth by consumption per head of population.

However, the detail of what we’re drinking reveals some surprising statistics. Compared with champagne’s other biggest importers, Australia ranks lowest in prestige champagne and rosé sales, lowest in average price per bottle, lowest in consumption of grower and cooperative champagnes, and Australia imports the smallest number of champagne houses, growers and cooperatives.

Australian drinkers have a great opportunity to embrace the wondrous diversity currently emerging from Champagne. Prestige cuvées, rosés, houses, growers and cooperatives all deserve to be showcased together. However, a disturbing “us and them” trend is emerging in Australian circles, in which grower tastings are increasingly isolated from champagne house tastings. In the spirit of champagne, all deserve to be showcased together. This was the mantra of my Taste Champagne events in September, where I presented the following statistics.

Australia is now the seventh largest champagne market in the world, having overtaken Italy for the first time last year.

Australia is equal fifth in the world for champagne consumption per head of population.

Australia ranks highest among Champagne’s biggest markets in non-vintage champagne imports. Non-vintage champagne comprises 93% of champagne consumption in Australia, compared with 81% of production. These figures do not account for parallel imports, which are likely to inflate Australia’s non-vintage champagne consumption slightly, since grey imports of entry non-vintages are common in Australia.

Australia ranks lowest among Champagne’s biggest markets in rosé imports. Rosé represents just 2% of champagne consumption in Australia, compared with 9.7% of production.

Australia ranks lowest among Champagne’s biggest markets in prestige champagne imports. Prestige champagne represents just 1% of champagne consumption in Australia, compared with 4.2% of production.

Australia ranks lowest among Champagne’s biggest markets in average price per bottle, besides France itself. The average value of a bottle departing Champagne for Australia is just €13.60. This does not include taxes, freight and local wholesaler or retailer margins.

Australia ranks lowest among Champagne’s biggest markets in consumption of grower champagnes, apart from the UAE. Grower champagnes comprise 1.8% of Australian champagne consumption, compared with 21.5% of production.

Australia ranks lowest among Champagne’s biggest markets in consumption of champagne cooperatives. Cooperatives comprise 0.8% of Australian champagne consumption, compared with 9.3% of production.

Australia ranks lowest among Champagne’s biggest markets in number of champagne houses imported. Of champagne’s 358 houses, 80 are available in Australia.

Australia ranks lowest after Sweden among Champagne’s biggest markets in number of champagne growers imported. Of Champagne’s 4625 growers, 86 are available in Australia.

Australia ranks lowest among Champagne’s biggest markets in number of champagne cooperatives imported. Of Champagne’s 43 cooperatives, 9 are available in Australia.

Statistics compiled by Tyson Stelzer from data presented in Les Expéditions de Vins de Champagne en 2013, Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne, 2014.

Tyson Stelzer is the author of The Champagne Guide 2014-2015, winner of Best Wine Book of the Year in The Wine Communicators of Australia Awards 2014.