Champagne shortage grips Australia as Dan Murphy’s rations Dom Perignon

Australia is facing a nationwide shortage of high-end champagne with one major alcohol supply chain forced to ration its stock of Dom Perignon to wealthy suburbs. 

The limited supply has been sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic and major shipping delays prompting fears that families will be forced to celebrate a dry Christmas.  

Small-time bottle stores have been forced to impose purchase limits while big chains have prioritised their supply to a few locations. 

Dan Murphy’s has taken the extraordinary step to ration its dwindling stock of Dom Perignon to well-heeled suburbs that have a higher rate of champagne consumption.

Double Bay, Mosman and Willoughby – in Sydney’s eastern and northern suburbs – and Brighton and Prahran – in Melbourne’s south and southeast – are among the areas being prioritised.

A 750ml bottle of Dom Perignon fetches as much as $300. 

Billecart-Salmon champagne is also running out with limited supply available at Dan Murphy’s and its sister store BWS.

Endeavour Group, which owns both stores, expects the shortage in supply to be temporary and has imposed purchase limits on the products. 

‘This includes some imported champagnes such as Dom Perignon and Billecart-Salmon,’ a spokesperson said.

‘This is due to global supply constraints caused by global demand for premium champagne, lower than usual production levels and the logistical challenges across the supply chain. 

‘To manage this, we’re allocating these products across our stores, prioritising our high-trading champagne stores.’ 

Dan Murphy’s is still selling 150 variations of champagne with more than 400 types of sparkling wine available to customers. 

The limited supply on high-end champagne adds to supply issues with two of the country’s biggest brewers Carlton & United Breweries and Lion.

A pallet shortage has prompted Lion to pare down production of some its beers while a purchase limit has been imposed by both companies. 

The Endeavour Group spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia shoppers were allowed to buy as many as 12 bottles of the high-end champagnes.

‘Like all retailers, we are seeing some supply chain constraints for a limited number of imported products due to the Covid-pandemic,’ he said.

‘But we have worked closely with our supply partners since the first lockdowns of 2020 to keep stock on shelves and we continue to do so.

‘The stock limit currently in place for selected Champagne lines is two cartons (12 bottles) per customer per purchase occasion, and it is to ensure all our customers have access to these Champagnes all the way throughout the festive season.’