The legendary Moët & Chandon is celebrating 270 years as the world’s most loved champagne. For over a quarter of a millennium, the renowned French winemaker has been sharing the magic of champagne across the globe. Every glass overflows with the House’s hallmark values of history, generosity, savoir-faire, success, boldness and elegance—values still at the heart of its global appeal.
Founded in 1743 in Epernay, France by Claude Moët, it was renamed Moët & Chandon in 1833 when Pierre-Gabriel Chandon joined the management team. In 1971 Moët & Chandon merged with Hennessy Cognac and in 1987 the resulting entity merged with luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton to form Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH). Along with many high-end fashion and retail brands, the group owns 24 Wine Houses.
Toward the end of the 18th century, Jean-Remy Moët, grandson of founder Claude Moët, became famous as the man who introduced champagne to the world. The important figures of the era, from the Marquise de Pompadour to Talleyrand to Napoleon quickly fell in love with the House’s effervescent wine. Moët & Chandon was soon the icon of success and elegance that it remains to this day.
As well as introducing champagne to the world, Moët & Chandon has also embedded champagne rituals and emblematic gestures into the World's culture which has helped strengthen it's reputation as the world's most-loved champagnes.
Among the first emblematic gestures were the sabering of bottles and the christening of ships. The 20th century saw the arrival of yet more pioneering gestures that are still favourite traditions today. The exuberant spray of champagne is accredited to Moët & Chandon dating back to the celebrations of the winners of the 24-hour Le Mans race in 1967. When Dan Gurney was handed the Jeroboam of Moët & Chandon and used the bottle like a firehose and deliberately sprayed champagne over the guests. A symbol was established, and the name of Moët & Chandon was to be inextricably linked to the winners’ champagne and to explosions of joy and celebration. The champagne pyramid, the dazzling cascade of sparkling bubbles that lights up glamorous parties and receptions around the world? Moët created that overflowing symbol of festivity as well.
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage champagnes, unlike most champagnes, are made from the grapes of a single exceptional year. Each Grand Vintage is unique. Each possesses the distinctive, imitable qualities of that year’s outstanding grapes, qualities which have been elevated to their fullest expression through the savoir-faire, experience and expertise of Moët & Chandon and the House’s chef de cave.
Since 1842, the House has released 74 vintage champagnes. Moët & Chandon possesses one of the world’s most prestigious collection of vintage champagnes, all of which are safeguarded in the Grand Vintage Reserve cellars.
Discover Moët & Chandon Champagne at Cellarmaster Wines.