Thebe Magugu Joins Moët & Chandon for the 2026 Harvest Experience
Award-winning South African designer Thebe Magugu joined Moët & Chandon in the heart of Champagne for the Maison’s second annual Harvest Experience, gaining an intimate perspective on the journey from grape to bottle.
The experience took place in Epernay on 7 September, bringing together the Maison’s heritage, winemaking expertise, sustainability efforts and approach to hospitality during one of the most important moments of the Champagne calendar.
The South African creative perspective extended beyond fashion, with Lerato Tshabalala from Your Luxury Africa also joining the experience to document the Maison’s harvest and winemaking journey for its discerning luxury audience.
Now firmly established as a signature moment of the harvest season, the exclusive annual rendez-vous offers a rare and privileged immersion into the Maison at the very moment when nature, precision and human craft converge.
Following the enthusiasm surrounding its inaugural edition, the experience returns with renewed depth and intensity, opening the doors to the living rhythm of harvest and the meticulous gestures that shape the identity of Moët & Chandon wines.
A Harvest Shaped by Balance and Precision
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 and remarkable terroirs.
Each plot is harvested only once it has reached its optimum potential, following meticulous berry tasting to determine the ideal picking date.
In the vineyard, only the finest bunches are selected by hand before undergoing a final optical sorting at the press.
This uncompromising attention to quality at every step ensures that each grape reaches the press in perfect condition, preserving its full integrity and expression.
As the Maison completes its 283rd harvest, the 2026 season marks a defining moment.
This year’s growing season has been shaped by extreme climatic conditions, from severe frosts to repeated heatwaves, putting the vines through an exceptionally demanding season.
These conditions resulted in an absolute record for earliness, with harvest beginning on 14 August, the earliest start ever recorded in the history of Champagne.
Early analyses reveal exceptional grape health and sanitary quality despite limited yields, together with an unprecedented balance of maturity, pointing to a vintage of truly distinctive character.
An Immersion Into the Living Heart of the Maison
Behind every glass of Moët & Chandon lies a legacy of more than 280 years.
The Harvest Experience provides a direct path into the heart of the Maison, tracing the lifecycle of champagne and Moët & Chandon’s philosophy at every stage while offering guests a firsthand encounter with its savoir-faire.
Guided by the voices who know it best, the journey unfolds through the defining moments of creation.
Following the journey of the grape, the experience began in the Maison’s historic vineyards, acquired in 1811 by Jean-Rémy Moët, around Loge Montaigu.
From this exceptional vantage point, Reynald Loiseau, Estate Manager, introduced guests to the Maison’s vineyards and shared his insights into the first impressions of the 2026 harvest.
The journey then continued at the Oiry pressing centre, where the grapes are pressed and transformed into juice, before moving on to the Mont Aigu winery, where alcoholic fermentation had begun.
Under the expertise of Daniel Carvajal, Winery Manager, the juices began their transformation into wines, which guests had the privilege of tasting before blending.
An intimate and refined picnic followed at Fort Chabrol, the first Research Center established by Moët & Chandon in 1900.
From this UNESCO-listed site, Reynald Loiseau shared the Maison’s vision and commitment to protecting nature and biodiversity in the heart of Champagne.
The journey culminated in the iconic cellars of the “Galerie Impériale”, where centuries of savoir-faire are carefully preserved.
A Maison Ambassador accompanied guests on this timeless journey, bringing to life the richness of Moët & Chandon’s unique heritage.
Each step reflects a philosophy deeply 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 as a Living Partner
Fort Chabrol is home to Natura Nostra, Moët & Chandon’s large-scale programme for biodiversity in Champagne.
The project aims to create ecological corridors connecting natural reservoirs, enabling the movement and life cycle of animal and plant species.
By 2025, the Maison had already planted 85 kilometres of hedgerows in its vineyards and with some of its 2,300 partner winegrowers.
These partners benefited from tailored support ranging from environmental assessments and plot planning to the selection of plant species and assistance with funding applications.
Beyond biodiversity, these plantations 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.
Moët & Chandon believes that its responsibility extends far beyond the walls of its Maison.
The Maison works hand in hand with its partners to imagine and shape the sustainable practices of tomorrow.
Everyone involved in this journey becomes a guardian of an exceptional natural heritage.
Driven by the strength of collective action and the richness of diversity, the Maison’s commitment goes well beyond the vineyard. It flows through every part of its value chain, turning each link into a catalyst for positive transformation for future generations.
The Art of Savoir-Vin
True to its spirit of hospitality, the Harvest Experience extends beyond the vineyard into the Maison’s art of hosting.
Guests are invited to experience moments of shared gastronomy in exceptional settings, where champagne and cuisine enter into dialogue.
This year, the Maison’s esteemed guest, award-winning actress Jessica Chastain, accompanied the Harvest Experience from vineyard to table, taking part in the harvest before hosting a dinner at the Château de Saran.
Alongside Benoît Gouez, Cellar Master at Moët & Chandon, she welcomed guests into one of the Maison’s most iconic residences.
Her presence highlighted the emotional dimension of Moët & Chandon’s savoir-faire: the dedication behind the harvest, the quality of the wines and the pleasure of sharing them around the table.
Moët & Chandon Executive Chef Jean-Michel Bardet created menus designed to reveal and elevate the character of each champagne.
Every ingredient was carefully selected to resonate with the cuvée’s aromas, textures and nuances, creating harmonious pairings that brought out the full expression of the wines, from Brut Impérial to Grand Vintage and Collection Impériale.
Each pairing was designed not simply as a tasting, but as an expression of emotion, balance and generosity — 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.”
Thebe Magugu and the South African Connection
The presence of Thebe Magugu brought a distinctly South African creative perspective to the experience.
The award-winning designer joined the Maison in Champagne to experience the craft and collective effort behind one of the world’s most recognised champagne houses, moving through the harvest journey from vineyard to cellar and table.
His participation also connected the world of South African fashion and creativity with the centuries-old traditions of Champagne, where design, craftsmanship, heritage and attention to detail intersect.
Alongside Magugu, Lerato Tshabalala of Your Luxury Africa documented the experience, extending the South African connection into the luxury media space.
Together, their presence highlighted the global cultural reach of the Maison while offering a South African perspective on the people, places and craftsmanship behind Moët & Chandon.
A Continuing Story of Excellence
With its second edition, the Harvest Experience confirms its place as more than an event.
It is a living expression of the Maison’s identity, where heritage and innovation evolve together.
It is an invitation to witness Champagne at its most essential moment — when nature speaks, when craftsmanship responds and when a collective of hands and minds transforms fruit into memory.
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 rich portfolio of diverse champagnes.
At home in over 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, or the ultimate expression of haute œn
