Founded in 1743 by Claude Moët, Moët & Chandon is one of Champagne's oldest and most celebrated Houses, commanding one of the region's largest and most diverse vineyard estates. Based in Épernay, at the heart of the Champagne region, the House has been part of LVMH since 1971 and maintains control over exceptional vineyard sites across the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs. Its signature style balances freshness, fruit expression and accessibility with the structure and refinement necessary for extended ageing in vintage cuvées.
Quick Facts
- Location: Épernay, Champagne, France
- Founded: 1743
- Founder: Claude Moët
- House identity: Fresh, elegant and fruit-forward Champagne
- Signature cuvée: Moët Impérial Brut
- Prestige cuvée: Dom Pérignon
- Cellar network: 28 kilometres of underground galleries
- Cellar depth: Extends up to 30 metres below ground
- Principal grapes: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay
- Estate vineyards: Over 1,150 hectares across premier Champagne terroirs
- Key styles: Brut, Rosé, Vintage and prestige Champagne
- Recognition: Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Champagne landscape
Nearly Three Centuries of Champagne Craftsmanship
Claude Moët established the House in 1743, during an era when Champagne was emerging as a symbol of celebration and refinement across European courts. His grandson, Jean-Rémy Moët, expanded the enterprise throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, forging relationships with figures including Napoleon Bonaparte and securing the House's international reputation.
In 1833, Pierre-Gabriel Chandon de Briailles joined the family through marriage, and the House adopted the name Moët & Chandon. The partnership brought further vineyard acquisitions and cemented the foundation for what would become one of Champagne's most enduring institutions.
Today, the House remains steward to one of the region's largest contiguous vineyard holdings, ensuring consistent access to distinguished fruit from across Champagne's diverse terroirs.
The Vineyards of Three Great Regions
Moët & Chandon controls over 1,150 hectares of estate vineyards, distributed across the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs. This exceptional geographic diversity allows the House to source Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay from sites ideally suited to each variety.
The Montagne de Reims provides powerful, structured Pinot Noir. The Vallée de la Marne, where the House was founded, contributes expressive Pinot Meunier with roundness and fruit character. The Côte des Blancs delivers Chardonnay of finesse, tension and longevity.
Beneath the House's headquarters in Épernay lies an extensive network of cellars extending approximately 28 kilometres and descending as deep as 30 metres. These chalk galleries, carved over centuries, provide the darkness, humidity and stable temperatures essential for slow, controlled maturation of reserve wines and finished Champagnes.
A Portfolio Built on Consistency and Prestige
Moët Impérial Brut is the House's defining expression, produced from a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay drawn from multiple vintages and sites. The cuvée is built for immediate pleasure, offering fresh orchard fruit, citrus and brioche with a balanced, approachable structure.
Rosé Impérial introduces red-fruit character and greater texture, while Grand Vintage expresses the personality of exceptional individual years. Ice Impérial, designed for service over ice, represents a contemporary expression of the House's willingness to innovate.
At the summit of the portfolio stands Dom Pérignon, produced as a vintage-only Champagne from its own dedicated vineyard sources and cellar team. Released only in years deemed worthy of the name, Dom Pérignon is recognised globally as one of Champagne's most iconic prestige cuvées, built for complexity, precision and decades of evolution.
Blending Philosophy and the Reserve Library
Central to Moët & Chandon's style is its extensive reserve wine library, which allows the Chef de Cave to maintain consistency and freshness across non-vintage cuvées while adding depth and complexity. Reserve wines, stored in stainless steel tanks and large oak foudres, are selected from earlier harvests and blended with base wines to achieve the House's signature balance.
The blending process draws on parcels from across the estate's vineyard holdings, with each site contributing specific aromatic, structural or textural characteristics. This meticulous parcel selection and layered approach to assemblage result in Champagnes that express the House's vision with clarity and refinement year after year.
