Harvest Experience returns for its second edition as Moët & Chandon welcomes guests into the heart of Champagne for an exclusive annual immersion into the harvest season. Bringing together nature, craftsmanship, gastronomy and heritage, the experience offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the Maison’s most significant moments of the year.
Following the enthusiasm of its inaugural edition, the Harvest Experience returns with renewed depth and intensity, inviting guests to discover the living rhythm of the harvest and the meticulous craftsmanship behind Moët & Chandon wines. Set during one of the most decisive weeks of the year, the experience reveals how nature, precision and human expertise come together to shape the identity of the Maison.
A Champagne Harvest Shaped by Precision and Balance
With 1,300 hectares of vineyards across Champagne, spanning a mosaic of Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites, Moët & Chandon draws from one of the region’s most diverse terroirs.
Each vineyard plot is harvested only when the grapes have reached their optimum potential, with meticulous berry tasting helping determine the ideal picking date. In the vineyard, the finest bunches are selected by hand before undergoing a final optical sorting at the press.
This uncompromising attention to quality ensures that every grape reaches the press in the best possible condition, preserving its integrity and expression from vineyard to winery.
As the Maison completes its 283rd harvest, this year marks another defining chapter in its long history. The 2026 growing season was shaped by extreme climatic conditions, including severe frosts and repeated heatwaves, putting the vines through an exceptionally demanding year.
The conditions resulted in a record-breaking start to the harvest, with picking beginning on August 14, the earliest start ever recorded in the history of Champagne. Early analyses revealed exceptional grape health and sanitary quality despite limited yields, alongside an unprecedented balance of maturity that points to a harvest of distinctive character.
Inside the Heart of the Moët & Chandon Harvest Experience
Behind every glass of Moët & Chandon lies more than 280 years of history, expertise and savoir-faire. The Harvest Experience offers guests a direct connection to the Maison, tracing the journey of Champagne from vineyard to cellar while revealing the philosophy and craftsmanship behind each stage.
Guided by the people who know the process best, the journey unfolds through some of the defining moments of the harvest.
The experience began in the Maison’s historic vineyards, acquired in 1811 by Jean-Rémy Moët, around the Loge Montaigu. From this exceptional vantage point, Reynald Loiseau, Estate Manager, introduced guests to the vineyards and shared his first impressions of the 2026 harvest.
The journey continued at the Oiry pressing centre, where freshly harvested grapes are pressed and transformed into juice, before moving to the Mont Aigu winery, where alcoholic fermentation began.
Under the expertise of Daniel Carvajal, Winery Manager, guests witnessed the beginning of the transformation from grape juice into wine and had the opportunity to taste the young wines before blending.
An intimate picnic followed at Fort Chabrol, the first research centre established by Moët & Chandon in 1900. From this UNESCO-listed site, Reynald Loiseau shared the Maison’s vision for protecting nature and biodiversity at the heart of Champagne.
The experience culminated in the iconic cellars of the Galerie Impériale, where centuries of savoir-faire continue to be preserved. Accompanied by a Maison Ambassador, guests explored this historic space and experienced the heritage that continues to shape Moët & Chandon today.
Each stage of the journey reflects a philosophy rooted in respect for nature, mastery of time and the pursuit of joyful fruitiness, refined maturity and effortless pleasure.
“The energy of the harvest has to be experienced to be fully understood. It’s when an entire year of observation, care and precision comes together,” said Reynald Loiseau. “Every decision is crucial, from the maturity of the grapes to the rhythm of the picking. It’s a pleasure to welcome guests into this essential moment for our Maison, where they can see, take part in and understand the harvest from within.”
Nature at the Heart of the Champagne Harvest
Fort Chabrol is also home to Natura Nostra, Moët & Chandon’s large-scale biodiversity programme in Champagne. The initiative aims to create ecological corridors that connect natural reservoirs, supporting the movement and life cycles of animal and plant species.
By 2025, the Maison had planted 85 kilometres of hedgerows across its vineyards and with some of its 2,300 partner winegrowers. These partners receive tailored support ranging from environmental assessments and plot planning to plant selection and assistance with funding applications.
Beyond biodiversity, the hedgerows contribute to water preservation, soil protection and the enhancement of the Champagne landscape, which has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014.
For Moët & Chandon, responsibility extends beyond the walls of the Maison. Working alongside its partners, the Maison continues to develop sustainable practices designed to protect Champagne’s natural heritage for future generations.
The approach is rooted in collective action and biodiversity, with sustainability extending throughout the value chain and every stage of the journey from vineyard to bottle.
The Art of Savoir-Vin: Champagne, Gastronomy and Hospitality
The Harvest Experience also extends beyond the vineyard, bringing guests into the Maison’s distinctive art of hosting. In exceptional settings, Champagne and cuisine come together through carefully considered gastronomic experiences designed to reveal each cuvée’s character.
This year, award-winning actress Jessica Chastain joined the Harvest Experience, following the journey from vineyard to table. After taking part in the harvest, she hosted an intimate dinner at the Château de Saran alongside Benoît Gouez, Cellar Master at Moët & Chandon.
Her participation highlighted the emotional dimension of the Maison’s savoir-faire: the dedication behind the harvest, the precision behind the wines and the pleasure of sharing them around the table.
Moët & Chandon Executive Chef Jean-Michel Bardet created menus designed to reveal and enhance the character of each Champagne. Ingredients were carefully selected to complement the aromas, textures, and nuances of each cuvée, creating pairings that brought out the wines’ expression, from Brut Impérial to Grand Vintage and Collection Impériale.
More than a tasting, each pairing became an expression of emotion, balance and generosity, capturing the essence of Moët & Chandon’s savoir-vin.
“The harvest season reminds us that Moët & Chandon’s savoir-vin is a collective craft brought to life by people, place and nature. Behind every cuvée, there is precision and passion, and the desire to create wines that move people,” said Benoît Gouez. “At the Château de Saran, the table becomes the place where this collective work is shared. Through each pairing, guests discover the character of each cuvée and the emotion and generosity behind it.”
The Harvest Experience Continues a Legacy of Craftsmanship
With its second edition, the Harvest Experience continues to embody the identity of Moët & Chandon, bringing together heritage, innovation, nature and human craftsmanship.
More than an event, it offers an intimate look at Champagne during one of its most important moments of the year, when a season of observation and care culminates in the harvest.
It is a moment when nature speaks, craftsmanship responds, and a collective of hands and minds transforms fruit into wine, heritage and memories.
Step into the harvest. Experience the Maison. Share the moment.
About Moët & Chandon
Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon shares the largest terroir in Champagne and its exceptional savoir-faire with the world through a diverse portfolio of Champagnes. Present in more than 150 countries, its creations embody the Maison’s French chic and timeless signature, from the iconic Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial to the innovative Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial and the ultimate expression of haute œnologie, Collection Impériale, launched in 2023.
Inspired by its visionary founders, Moët & Chandon brings creativity and a pioneering spirit to every stage of its craft, from the precision of Champagne production to the creation of new cuvées, guided by the belief that life is better when shared.
As a leader in Champagne, the Maison is committed to the welfare of its people and communities while advancing sustainability through programmes including Natura Nostra and Essentia, to preserve nature for future generations.
