This week, for the first time ever, Moët & Chandon has unearthed a collection of never-before-seen photos tied to the 150th Anniversary of their flagship champagne, Moët Impérial.
From Paul Newman’s 40th birthday party on-set in Nice to Andy Warhol’s private bottle service dinner in NYC, these exclusive images, released from the Moët & Chandon archives for the very-first time, showcase the most iconic celebrations in sports, cinema, fashion and popular culture where Moët has helped play a starring role.
Born in 1869, Moët Impérial was destined to become a superstar. In fact, its very name pays homage to the unbreakable friendship between Jean-Remy Moët, grandson of the House’s father, and the future Emperor of France, Napoléon Bonaparte. Since then, whenever royals toasted, wherever the art world danced with movie stars and fashion models mingled with rock stars, Moët Impérial was there. These classic images, preserved in a vault and carefully guarded by historians and archivists, celebrate Moet Imperial’s presence in some of the most unforgettable moments of the last century and a half with some of the biggest stars in the world.
From providing sparkle to the “Salons” of Madame de Pompadour – herself a star of the Age of Enlightenment – to the namesake relationship with the imperial courts of France, Moët Impérial has been groomed to share the spotlight since being founded in 1743. In mid-20th century, Moët & Chandon President Robert-Jean de Vogüé, positioned the brand to be a worldwide staple. With his legendary “15 minutes of lead time,” this ambassador of modern French style spread the House’s values of grandeur and generosity as he mingled with President Eisenhower, dined with Gary Cooper, and charmed the Hollywood aristocracy with his festive champagne.
Ever since, Moët Impérial has been the choice-accessory to garnish celebrated moments among the time’s biggest stars, becoming an icon in its own right. As an example, Moët & Chandon has been the Champagne of the Golden Globes for the past 28 years.