French wine and spirits brand, Moët Hennessy, has stated work on its new Robert-Jean de Vogüé Research Center dedicated to advancing knowledge and evolving practices, which reflect the brands commitment to not only to its terroir but also to the entire Champagne category.
Climate change and biodiversity loss for more environmentally friendly products have highlighted the limits of the current viticultural model and reinforced the need to evolve.
Representing an investment of 20 million euros, the Research centre has been designed to understand and anticipate the major challenges of the decades ahead.
“Closely aligned with the Living Soils, Living Together program we launched last year, our new state-of-the-art research infrastructure will support all Moët Hennessy Houses as they continue to transform their businesses through sustainability,” said Philippe Schaus, CEO of Moët Hennessy.
“Named in honor of Robert-Jean de Vogüé, one of the Group’s historic leaders who worked tirelessly for the common good in Champagne and beyond, the Research Center will be a hub for sharing knowledge both between the Houses and with public sector researchers and will also embrace collaboration with other external structures.”
The Center will cover four major research areas:
- Innovating to understand: microbiology and biotechnology. Observing and analyzing micro-organisms to better understand their impact on vineyards.
- Innovating to protect the climate: plant physiology. Conducting experiments on vines and grapes to meet the challenges of global warming.
- Innovating to improve production: process engineering. Analyzing every step in winemaking to optimize processes and promote recyclability.
- Innovating for the experience: sensory analysis and formulation. Analyzing the sensory profile of our products at different stages of production, to continue our Houses’ quests for excellence.
In 2020, Moët Hennessy formally committed to sustainable viticulture with “Living Soils” which aims to unite its communities across the world and develop a global social responsibility program. The new Center, with its focus on addressing environmental and industry challenges, will allow Moët Hennessy to continue making important contributions to sustainable winemaking practices.
For more information, go to lvmh.fr