🥂 CHAMPAGNE & NAPOLEON
The Emperor, the Cellars & a Very Good Reason to Raise a Glass
Some people leave their mark on history. Others leave their mark on champagne. Napoleon Bonaparte managed to do both. Few historical figures are as instantly recognisable as Napoleon – the military genius, Emperor of the French, master strategist and, of course, owner of that extraordinarily famous hat. But behind the battles, the crowns and the enormous personality lies another rather lovely part of his story: his enduring connection with champagne and, in particular, the House of Moët & Chandon.
And this is where our story takes us to Épernay.
🍾 Napoleon arrives in Champagne
On 26 July 1807, Napoleon stopped in Épernay while returning to France after the Treaty of Tilsit. He was accompanied by Joachim Murat, his brother-in-law and one of his most senior military commanders. Napoleon visited the cellars of Moët & Cie – and this was no insignificant social call. By this time, Jean-Rémy Moët had transformed the family champagne business into an increasingly international enterprise. He had also become mayor of Épernay and was accustomed to welcoming some rather distinguished visitors. Napoleon was among them.
The Emperor and Jean-Rémy Moët developed a friendship, and Napoleon would return to Épernay several times during his travels between Paris and the battlefields of Europe.
🎩 The Emperor’s favourite champagne connection
Napoleon’s relationship with Moët became sufficiently legendary that the House’s flagship champagne, Moët Impérial, takes its name from the Emperor. Moët & Chandon itself describes the wine as reflecting the House’s long-standing bond with Napoleon, who visited its cellars in 1807. And if you have ever wondered why the word “Impérial” appears on that famous bottle, now you know.
🏅 A remarkable friendship
Then came one of the most extraordinary moments in the relationship. In March 1814, Napoleon returned to Épernay for the final time before his first abdication.
Jean-Rémy Moët was still mayor of the town, and Napoleon personally awarded him the Légion d’honneur. According to the Union des Maisons de Champagne’s historical account, Napoleon presented Moët with the cross he himself was wearing, recognising both his service as administrator and the remarkable development of his champagne business in France and abroad.
Today, Moët & Chandon’s Caveau Napoléon commemorates that extraordinary connection. The House states that it was there, in its cellars, that Napoleon presented his friend Jean-Rémy Moët with the Légion d’honneur in 1814.
And yes … we have actually been there a few times.
⚔️ Did Napoleon invent sabrage?
Now we arrive at one of the more entertaining stories.
The legend goes that Napoleon and his troops developed the tradition of opening champagne bottles with a sabre to celebrate victory. It is a magnificent story. Is it proven historical fact? Not quite. Even Moët & Chandon calls it a legend – but, frankly, it is exactly the sort of legend that champagne was born to carry.
Imagine the scene:
Victory achieved.
Uniforms immaculate.
Sabres flashing.
Champagne flowing.
And someone deciding that removing the cork conventionally was simply far too pedestrian. Whether Napoleon actually stood there personally performing the manoeuvre is another matter.
🍾 Champagne, power and celebration
What makes Napoleon’s connection with champagne particularly fascinating is that it wasn’t simply about drinking wine. Champagne was becoming a symbol of success, diplomacy, celebration and status. Jean-Rémy Moët understood this brilliantly. His champagne travelled far beyond Épernay, reaching courts, aristocratic households and influential figures across Europe. During Napoleon’s reign, Épernay became a stopping point for an extraordinary procession of kings, princes, military commanders and dignitaries. Champagne wasn’t just something you drank. It was something you arrived with, celebrated with and were remembered by.
And Jean-Rémy Moët was rather good at making sure the world knew it.
👑 The history that surrounds the bottle
Our own visit brought some of that history wonderfully to life. There was Napoleon’s unmistakable profile. His famous bicorne. The magnificent bust. The historic Moët & Chandon buildings. The underground cellars stretching beneath Épernay. The enormous barrels and rows upon rows of bottles resting quietly in the darkness.
🥂 And then there is us…
Of course, we couldn’t possibly visit Champagne without inserting ourselves into the story. You can read about Napoleon. You can admire his hat. You can walk through the very cellars he visited.
⭐ Napoleon’s legacy
Napoleon’s empire ultimately disappeared. His armies marched into history. His crowns became museum pieces. His famous hat became an icon. But his association with champagne endured. More than two centuries later, his name remains connected with Moët & Chandon, from Moët Impérial to the Caveau Napoléon, and to the enduring story of his friendship with Jean-Rémy Moët. Perhaps that’s why champagne has such a special place in our imaginations.
It has always been more than a drink. It marks the moment.
À votre santé, Monsieur Bonaparte. 🥂
Champagne & the Famous is a Champagne Direct series celebrating the people, stories and unforgettable moments that have helped make Champagne part of our cultural history.