Moët & Chandon

From Claude Moët to the largest champagne house in the world

The story begins in 1743, when the wine merchant Claude Moët founded a trading house in Épernay, laying the foundation for the most famous champagne house in the world. His grandson Jean-Rémy Moët significantly expanded the business from 1792 onwards and made the brand internationally known — his close friendship with Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have given the later designation "Impérial" its name. In 1833, Pierre-Gabriel Chandon, the founder's son-in-law, joined the company management, and the house received its name, which is still valid today. Further milestones followed: in 1927, the house acquired the trademark rights to Dom Pérignon, and the first commercially marketed prestige cuvée of the region appeared in 1936. Since 1987, Moët & Chandon has belonged to the luxury group LVMH, but has remained firmly rooted in Épernay, on the Avenue de Champagne.

Cellar, terroir and work in the vineyard

Moët & Chandon owns around 1,190 hectares of its own vineyards — the largest contiguous vineyard complex in the entire Champagne region. The sites are distributed across all five main zones of the region: Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, Vallée de la Marne, Sézanne and Aube. Of these, 50% are classified as Grand Cru and 25% as Premier Cru. For total production, grapes are additionally purchased from contract growers. More than 28 kilometers of underground cellar vaults extend under the Avenue de Champagne, the first sections dug as early as the 18th century — here the champagnes mature under constant conditions.

Sustainability is not a marketing promise, but measurable: in 2007, the house received ISO 14001 certification for all locations and activities, and since 2014, all vineyards have been double-certified for sustainable management and high environmental value. In 2012, the Mont-Aigu press house opened in Oiry, France's first building of this type with the "Haute Qualité Environnementale" label. With the Natura Nostra program launched in 2021, the house is working on a 100-kilometer-long ecological corridor to strengthen biodiversity around its own sites.

Brut Impérial, Grand Vintage and ICE Impérial: three style worlds

The Brut Impérial is the style-defining heart of the house: a non-vintage cuvée of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, which is geared towards freshness, fruit and accessibility. Chardonnay brings finesse and liveliness, Pinot Noir structure and body, Pinot Meunier fruitiness and melt. The Grand Vintage follows a different logic — it is created exclusively in strong vintages and shows what Moët's terroir diversity can achieve: more depth, more aging potential, clearly defined vintage character. The ICE Impérial is designed for a specific drinking occasion: served over large ice cubes, with higher dosage and riper fruit. Whether classic, vintage-bound or for the summer on ice — the range consciously covers different drinking situations without leaving the house style.