The continued growth of the Asian fine wine market will provide a major boost to champagne sales in 2011.

This is the view of Stephen Charters, Reims Management School's chair of champagne management, who notes that 2010 was a much better year for champagne sales than 2009.

Speaking to the Drinks Business, Mr Charters revealed that 2009 saw champagne sales fall by 42 per cent, but in the first seven months of this year champagne exports rose by 36 per cent.

He went on to reveal that champagne's success is intrinsically linked to the success of the global economy as a whole.

"Champagne is a drink related to confidence. It's something you drink when you have something to celebrate. With the economy in recovery, there's now more to celebrate," Mr Charters said.

Champagne expert Giles Fallowfield recently told Harpers Wine and Spirit Trades Review that he expects sales of the fine wine to reach record levels again by 2013.