The World’s Largest Champagne House
Moët & Chandon is the largest Champagne producer by volume, headquartered on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay — the most famous wine address in France. The house was founded in 1743 and has been associated with celebration, luxury, and global prestige for nearly three centuries. Napoleon Bonaparte was a personal friend of Jean-Rémy Moët and reportedly visited the cellars regularly. The house’s prestige cuvée is Dom Pérignon, named after the Benedictine monk who is (somewhat misleadingly) credited with inventing Champagne.
The Moët & Chandon cellars beneath the Avenue de Champagne extend for approximately 28 kilometres — the longest cellar network of any single Champagne house. The cellar tour is one of the essential Champagne experiences and provides the full scale of what industrial-level Champagne production looks like — millions of bottles in galleries stretching further than you can see.
The Tour Experience
The tour lasts approximately 60–90 minutes and covers the cellar network, the production process, and the house’s history, concluding with a tasting. The scale of the Moët cellars is the distinguishing feature — where smaller houses feel intimate and artisanal, Moët impresses through sheer volume and the engineering required to manage production at this level.
Standard tours include the cellar walk and a tasting of the Moët Impérial Brut. Premium tours add the Rosé, Grand Vintage, or — at the highest level — Dom Pérignon tastings. The Dom Pérignon experience is a separate, more intimate tour focusing specifically on the prestige cuvée and its history.
Practical Tips
The address is 20 Avenue de Champagne, Epernay. The visitor entrance is on the main street, clearly signed. Epernay is approximately 30 minutes by road from Reims or 1 hour 20 minutes by train from Paris.
Book in advance. Moët & Chandon is the second most visited Champagne house (after Veuve Clicquot) and peak-season slots sell out. Online booking is available through the house’s website.
Combine with other Avenue de Champagne houses. Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger, and other houses are on the same street, making Epernay an efficient base for visiting multiple houses on foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Moët & Chandon from Reims?
Approximately 30 kilometres (20 minutes by road). Most guided Champagne tours from Reims include a Moët or Epernay visit as part of the day’s itinerary. The train connection between Reims and Epernay takes approximately 25 minutes.
Can I visit Dom Pérignon at Moët & Chandon?
Dom Pérignon is a brand within the Moët Hennessy group, and its history is covered on the Moët & Chandon tour. Dedicated Dom Pérignon experiences are sometimes available as premium add-ons. The Abbey of Hautvillers, where the monk Dom Pérignon lived and worked, is a separate site approximately 6 kilometres north of Epernay.
How long is the Moët & Chandon cellar tour?
Approximately 60–90 minutes including the guided cellar walk and tasting. Allow up to 2 hours including check-in and post-tasting time.
What is the difference between Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon?
Moët & Chandon produces the widely available Moët Impérial Brut and other range Champagnes. Dom Pérignon is the house’s prestige cuvée — made only in exceptional vintage years, from the best grapes, with extended ageing. Dom Pérignon is significantly more expensive and produced in much smaller quantities. Both are made by the same house but represent different quality levels and price points.