Some celebrants may not get to ring in 2022 with their favourite champagne amid reports that the customary New Year beverage is low in supply.

According to Alison Napjus, an editor at lifestyle magazine Wine Spectator, champagne is the latest casualty of global supply chain problems. The scarcity, Napjus said, lies in boxes, transportation, labels and cages for the wine.

“It’s not even just that basic transportation issue. We’re also looking at things like shortages of the cage that goes on top of your bottle, labels, boxes to put wine in,” she explained, adding that it could it be difficult to find some favourite labels this year.

“So you put that all together with the huge increase in demand we’ve seen for champagne this year [and] for other sparkling wines and, of course, the holiday season, and it could be tough to find some of your favourite labels this year.”

This news was coming just days shy of New Year’s Eve, and was recognised not long after United States President Joe Biden stressed that fears over supply shortages had subsided.

Not only are consumers seeing empty shelves, but the low supply of the product has also caused high prices. Earlier this month, Michael Bilello, senior vice president of communications and marketing of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, said increased costs could soon be passed to consumers. 

“As the cost of business and challenges of doing business impact the wine and spirits industry, consumers are going to see that on the shelves or their bars and restaurants,” Bilello explained. 

Now in the early stages on champagne shortage, reports are that this is expected to continue for several years.