The House That Napoleon Touched

In 1743, a young man named Claude Moet began selling champagne from his family estate in Epernay, in the heart of the Champagne region of northeastern France. At the time, champagne was still a relatively new invention -- Dom Pierre Perignon, the Benedictine monk at Hautvillers Abbey, had spent decades perfecting the method of producing sparkling wine in bottles, though he would have called it vin de Champagne, not champagne. Claude Moet saw something others did not: that champagne was not merely a wine, but a symbol of celebration, luxury, and French sophistication.

What Claude Moet built would become the largest and most recognized champagne house on Earth.

Historical Arc:

• 1743 -- Claude Moet establishes his champagne house in Epernay, Champagne, France
• 1759 -- Claude Moet dies; his son Francois takes over and expands vineyard holdings
• 1792 -- Jean-Remy Moet (grandson of the founder) assumes leadership. He becomes one of the most important figures in champagne history
• 1793 -- Jean-Remy Moet befriends the young Napoleon Bonaparte at the Abbey of Hautvillers, where Jean-Remy was a student. This friendship would prove transformative
• 1804 -- Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of France. Jean-Remy Moet is made a Member of the Legion of Honor -- a recognition that elevates the brand to imperial status
• 1811 -- The "Comet Vintage" of 1811 (so named because Halley's Comet appeared that year) becomes legendary. Moet champagne becomes the preferred drink of European royalty
• 1833 -- Jean-Remy Moet partners with Gabriel de Chandon de Briailles, a member of an old noble family. The firm becomes Moet et Chandon
• 1869 -- The house begins exporting champagne to the United States, Russia, and Japan -- among the first champagne houses to go truly global
• 1876 -- Moet et Chandon creates its first prestige cuvee (though the Dom Perignon name would not be used until later)
• 1921 -- First vintage of Dom Perignon is produced (named after the monk), though it is not released commercially until 1936
• 1987 -- Moet et Chandon becomes part of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy), formed through the merger of Louis Vuitton with Moet Hennessy
• 1990s-2000s -- Moet expands global distribution, becoming the best-selling champagne brand worldwide
• 2010s -- Moet Impérial reaches approximately 28 million bottles annually, making it the largest champagne producer in the world

The Brands Within the House

Moet Impérial

The flagship non-vintage champagne, Moet Impérial is the best-selling champagne in the world. It is a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes, aged for at least two years in the house cellars. The flavor profile is characterized by green apple, citrus, and brioche notes. It is the champagne of celebrations worldwide -- from New Year's Eve to the finish line of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Dom Perignon

The prestige cuvee of Moet et Chandon, Dom Perignon is produced only in vintage years -- years when the grape harvest is deemed exceptional enough to produce a wine of extraordinary quality. First produced from the 1921 vintage and commercially released in 1936, Dom Perignon is named after Dom Pierre Perignon, the 17th-century Benedictine monk who pioneered many of the techniques used in champagne production (though he did not "invent" champagne, as the popular myth claims).

Dom Perignon is aged for a minimum of seven years before release, with recent vintages often aged longer. Current vintages (2012, 2013) retail for approximately USD 200-300. Older vintages can command thousands of dollars at auction.

Moet Rose Imperial

The rosé variant, blending Moet Impérial with a small percentage of red wine to achieve its distinctive pink color. It features red berry and floral notes alongside the house style.

Production and Vineyard Holdings

Moet et Chandon controls over 1,190 hectares (2,940 acres) of vineyards across the Champagne region -- one of the largest vineyard holdings of any champagne house. The majority are classified as Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards in the villages of Avenay, Cramant, Hautvillers, and Dizy.

The house produces approximately 28 million bottles of champagne annually, a volume that dwarfs most competitors. For comparison, Krutz produces around 3 million bottles, and Bollinger approximately 4 million. This scale gives Moet enormous economies of scale in purchasing, production, and distribution.

Competitive Moat

Scale and Distribution: Moet Impérial is the best-selling champagne globally. Its distribution network reaches virtually every country where champagne is consumed. The brand is present in duty-free shops, luxury hotels, restaurants, and retail stores worldwide. This ubiquity is both a strength and a challenge -- it makes the brand accessible but also risks diluting exclusivity.

LVMH Integration: As part of LVMH (the Moet in Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy), the house benefits from the conglomerate's unparalleled distribution, marketing, and retail capabilities. LVMH can place Moet in its own luxury hotels, restaurants, and retail environments globally.

Dom Perignon Prestige: The Dom Perignon brand commands a premium position in the prestige cuvee segment, competing with Cristal (Louis Roederer), La Grande Dame (Veuve Clicquot), and Belle Epoque (Perrier-Jouet). The vintage-only production model ensures scarcity and quality perception.

Napoleonic Heritage: The connection to Napoleon Bonaparte -- who reportedly kept cases of Moet in his military campaigns and made Jean-Remy Moet a Legion of Honor member -- provides a brand narrative that is both authentic and compelling. This is not invented heritage; it is documented history.

F1 Podium Tradition: Every Formula 1 podium celebration since the 1960s has featured Moet champagne being sprayed by the winning drivers. This tradition began spontaneously and has continued for over 60 years, associating the brand with victory, speed, and elite competition.

Key Data

Notable Details

The Napoleon Connection: Napoleon Bonaparte was not merely a customer of Moet -- he was a friend of Jean-Remy Moet, whom he met at the Abbey of Hautvillers. Historical records show that Napoleon would stop at the Moet cellars in Epernay during his military campaigns, and Jean-Remy would send cases of champagne to Napoleon wherever he was stationed. When Napoleon made Jean-Remy a member of the Legion of Honor in 1804, it was one of the first times a commercial brand received such recognition. The phrase "champagne of emperors" is not marketing copy -- it is literally true.

The F1 Podium Spray: The tradition of spraying champagne on the Formula 1 podium began in 1966 at the Le Mans 24 Hours, when driver Dan Gurney spontaneously sprayed his champagne into the crowd. The practice quickly spread to F1 and has continued ever since. Moet has been the official champagne supplier for F1 podium celebrations for decades, and the image of drivers spraying Moet bottles is one of the most iconic in motorsport. The brand estimates that over 100,000 bottles have been opened on F1 podiums.

The Cellars: Moet et Chandon cellars in Epernay stretch for over 28 kilometers (17 miles) underground, carved into the chalk bedrock of the Champagne region. The cellars maintain a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) and humidity of 90 percent -- ideal conditions for champagne aging. The cellars hold approximately 200 million bottles at any given time.