Moët & Chandon is the largest Champagne house existing today, it produces over 32 million bottles a year, not counting Dom Pérignon which has become an independent brand, and has 28 km of underground tunnels in Epernay. It also manages over 1100 hectares of vineyards, many of which are located in Grand Cru villages, and purchases grapes from third parties.
Moët & Chandon is also one of the oldest maisons, founded in 1743 by Claude Moët, who had previously worked as a vigneron and as a négociant. Champagne Moët was always present at the court of Louis XV.
The production style is fresh and fruity, it is based on some cornerstones: the first is the grape harvest at complete phenolic ripeness, the second is fermentation of base wines in steel, the third is the important use of liqueur d'éxpedition. Black grapes are protagonists in the Brut Impérial, the most produced Champagne label in the world. The cuvée prestige of Moët et Chandon is Dom Pérignon, conceived for the first time in 1936 and since 1947 it went into production, becoming the most famous Champagne in the world. Today Dom Pérignon is produced in an enormous number, but never made known, of bottles and Moët et Chandon has made it a brand in its own right.
Since the 1970s, the Maison Moët et Chandon has also sought partnerships outside Champagne and has become an integral part of the large luxury group LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton).
LVMH also controls the maison Krug, Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot in Champagne; in addition they are part of the Château Cheval Blanc group in Bordeaux and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand.