Moët & Chandon is easily the most famous house in the region of Champagne. It is one of the largest too, comprising 1150 hectares (2850 acres) of estate vineyards plus more from growers, 17 miles (28km) of cellars and a production capacity of 60 million bottles a year.
The house was founded by Claude Moët in 1743. However, his grandson, Jean-Remy Moët, is credited with having brought Champagne to a wider audience and, by 1789, the house was recognized both domestically and internationally. In the 1970s and '80s, Moët & Chandon expanded its empire beyond Champagne, partnering first with Cognac house Hennessy and then with fashion giant Louis Vuitton, forming Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, or LVMH. Today, the group owns several other famous wine brands, including Krug and Veuve Clicquot in Champagne, Château Cheval Blanc in Bordeaux, and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand.
