During the recent Christmas festivities, wine merchants in Britain reported a drop in supplies from France due to high demand from India and Russia.

It is feared that due to limited production in the Champagne area of France, top quality wines may have to be rationed in Britain in the future. Annual sales of wine in the last year reached a record 7 billion pounds.

To meet the international demand, French authorities have decided to amend a law, which has not been changed since 1927, defining the AOC or "appellation d'origine contrtlie'' of Champagne.

The Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualiti will redraw the boundaries of the famous Champagne-Ardenne region by March 13, expanding the 33,500-hectare region to include up to 40 more villages.

This will help increase the production of champagne.

At present, 317 villages are considered to be surrounded by the right soil and to have the right weather conditions to produce grapes for Champagne production.

Industry figures say that sales of Champagne in India soared 129 per cent in 2006, while China bought 50 per cent more, and Russia 39 per cent more.