Moët et Chandon

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Moët & Chandon is the largest brand and manufacturer of champagne.

Contents

1 History

1.1 Domaine Chandon

2 Pronunciation
3 Popular culture references
4 See also
5 External links

History

The company dates back to 1743 when Claude Moët began shipping wines from the Champagne region of France to Paris. The reign of Louis XV coincided with an increased demand for sparkling wine. Moët expanded rapidly and by the end of the eighteenth century was exporting the drink all over Europe and to the United States. Claude's grandson Jean-Remy Moët brought the house to international prominence catering to such elite clientele as Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte. Chandon was added to the company name when Jean-Remy Moët turned over half the company to his son Victor, and half to his son-in-law Pierre-Gabriel Chandon de Briailles in 1832. Following the introduction of the concept of a vintage champagne in 1840, Moët marketed its first vintage in 1842. Their best-selling brand, Brut Imperial was introduced in the 1860s. Their best known label is Dom Perignon, named for the Benedictine monk fondly remembered in legend as the "Father of Champagne". Moët & Chandon merged with Hennessy Cognac in 1971 and with Louis Vuitton in 1987 to become LVMH-Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the largest luxury group in the world, netting over 16 billion euros in fiscal 2004.

"Moët & Chandon" holds the British Royal Warrant as supplier of champagne to Queen Elizabeth II.

"Moët & Chandon" says that at least one bottle of its champagne is popped open somewhere in the world every second, making it the largest producer of champagne in the world.

Domaine Chandon

In 1973, the then Moët-Hennessy company founded Domaine Chandon, an outpost winery in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. It was the first French-owned sparkling wine venture in the United States. The restaurant "Etoile", on the premises of the winery, is consistently rated one of the finest restaurants in Northern California.

Pronunciation

Commonly mispronounced "mō-way", the actual pronunciation is "mo-wett". Moët is indeed French champagne, but it is spelled with a diaeresis, and this is where the confusion lies. Claude Moët was born in France in 1683; however, his name is not French, it is Dutch. Even if Claude had been French, Moët & Chandon would be pronounced /moe e ʃãdõ/ or /moɛt e ʃãdõ/.

Popular culture references

The song "Killer Queen," from the British band Queen album Sheer Heart Attack, refers to Moët & Chandon in its opening lines: "She keeps her Moët & Chandon in a pretty cabinet..."
The song "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg also refers to Moët & Chandon.
The song "Friday" by Craig David also refers to Moët & Chandon.
The song "The Roof" by Mariah Carey also refers to Moët & Chandon.
The song "My Melody" by Eric B. & Rakim also refers to Moët & Chandon.

External links