Champagne vineyard owners turn surplus grapes into surgical spirits used in medicines and printing inks Vineyards will go to great lengths to stop the bubbles going out of the champagne market. Perfect weather conditions mean the French are expecting a bumper grape harvest. But this could see companies engaging in a grubby price war, which would damage the premium image the industry depends on. Fizzing: To keep prices of champagne fizzing, many will be sending their surplus grapes to distilleries to be turned into surgical spirit Vineyards are hampered, too, by the fact that France has official limits on the quantity of grapes they can store. So, in order to keep prices fizzing, many will be sending their surplus grapes to distilleries to be turned into surgical spirit and the industrial alcohol used in detergents, medicines and printing inks. Richard Siddle, editor of Harpers Wine & Spirit, says: "Champagne houses are among the canniest brand managers in the world, and will take every step to ensure they keep the allure around their champagnes. If that means selling surplus grapes to local distillers, then so be it. Oh, but what a waste of those wonderful grapes! Canny: 'Champagne houses are among the canniest brand managers in the world', says Richard Siddle (stock image)