The price of Champagne is set to increase as grape costs continue to rise, according to leading producers.

Speaking to Decanter, Carol Duval-Leroy expressed concern that rising grape prices are "collective suicide".

"The cost of grapes has gone up too much over the past few years. It will mean [retail] prices going up by between three and six per cent in the UK. The consumer may be reluctant to pay so much and turn to Prosecco," she said.

Bruno Paillard, chairman of BCC, the Champagne group that owns Lanson, admits prices will be rising but he hopes it will be no more than two or three per cent.

Champagne producers have found their margins stretched by rising grape prices for some time, yet the UK consumer continues to benefit from the fierce battle for market share.

However, Laurent-Perrier UK managing director David Hesketh said that the company has no choice but to pass on the extra costs this year.

"Not to do so would make our business unsustainable, we absorbed the cost increases last year because of the state of the market," he said.

In other news from Champagne, world-renowned producer Krug is to add a disgorgement date to each bottle of its top non-vintage blend, Grande Cuvee.

Director Olivier Krug says he attaches little importance to the disgorgement date, but since the Grande Cuvee is so different from what the estate has traditionally produced, it will help drinkers to see how the wine will age compared to other bottles.

"We know that Krug lovers are interested in how Grande Cuvee ages and this information will enable those with several different blends in their cellars in five years' time to see which is the oldest," he told Decanter.