Millennium Bubbly Supplies OK

There should be enough of the real bubbly for this New Year's celebration to ring in the millennium.

The Champagne industry in France had been making preparations for years to make certain there's no shortage.

Producers began increasing production in 1995, when the Champagne region began producing 15 to 20 million bottles more annually to meet the expected increased demand.

What's more: prices aren't expected to go through the roof.

Still, there are limits to what can be called Champagne.
Any sparkling wines made elsewhere are not allowed to wear the Champagne label, only wine produced in the eastern region of France. And that region contains less than 75,000 acres. That acreage yields only five percent of all French wines and just 15 percent of all effervescent wines.

Also, there's good news for future vintages of Champagne. This year's harvest has just begun, and the quality of the grapes is described as "exceptional."