California was the next territory to beckon, after Robert-Jean became convinced of the potential of this region for quality sparkling. The idea was considered revolutionary both in France and in America. The United States had always been a minor market for wines and US demand for California sparkling wines was even smaller. Chandon California was founded in 1973, betting on the emergence of a sparkling wine market, and began producing under the direction of Dawnine Dyer in terroirs found by John Wright.
Restless pioneers in the pursuit of sparkling perfection.
Sixty years ago, Robert-Jean de Vogüé and an assortment of his closest friends set out to redefine luxury sparkling wine. They decided the only way to bring it into the modern world was to take it far, far from home. That journey of rediscovery began in Argentina and eventually took them to California, Brazil, China, India and, of course, all the way down here to little old Australia. When we say the sun never sets on Chandon, we mean it quite literally.
At Chandon, we’ve always taken risks because we’ve always believed it was riskier not to take them. John Wright, who ran Chandon California at the time, took a risk on our land of opportunity. He visited Victoria in 1982 and was chuffed with the can-do spirit of the Australians. The boss, Phillipe Coulon, visited soon after and gave his tick of approval. They then tasked the legendary oenologist Tony Jordan with the unenviable task of finding the perfect land to begin a vineyard.
In Australia, if Tony had just thrown a rock in any direction, he probably could have hit a decent piece of land for winemaking. But Tony wanted something truly special: a cool-climate area with enough diversity of terroir to give him all the blending options he could dream of. The Yarra Valley was the natural choice, and Tony loved it so much he couldn’t leave. The first cuvées were released in 1989 under the new Chief Winemaker and head rock thrower, the one and only Tony Jordan.
Restless pioneers in the pursuit of sparkling perfection.
In 1959, our founder Robert-Jean de Vogüé and his oenologist Renaud Poirier took the road less travelled to Mendoza, Argentina, and collaborated with local winemakers to apply Champagne expertise to local varieties. What resulted was the first of many connections, which saw Chandon craft sparkling expressions from New World terroir.
In 1973, an unexpected meeting of minds occurred between our founder Robert-Jean de Vogüé and Californian entrepreneur John Wright – they shared a vision for exploring new horizons and those pursuits gave rise to an inspiring estate in the Napa Valley, which now crafts exceptional wines with a Californian character.
During the mid-1980s, in a flash of serendipity, a team of Chandon’s wine whisperers struck gold at Green Point, an old dairy farm in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. The cool climate and great soil combined to make a picture-perfect home for Domaine Chandon. Since 1986, this is where Australia’s leading méthode traditionnelle producer has been confidently crafting sparkling and still wines that are stamped with the distinct style that is Chandon.
Chandon’s spirit of possibility continues to burn brightly, unlocking the potential for wine production in India and China, and believing in the promise of possibility – beautiful surprises are just around the corner.
CHANDON GLOBAL MAP
WE CRAFT EXCEPTIONAL SPARKLING WINES
& EXPERIENCES BASED ON THE
CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD
Chandon now calls four continents home. Each of our terroirs has posed its own challenges – but Chandon loves nothing better. We are a worldwide family; together, yet separate; sharing our knowledge and united by inspiration. The accents might be different, yes; but we speak the same language.
Since Robert-Jean de Vogüé took sparkling wine from its homeland to the rest of the world, others have followed suit. He had a saying he lived by: “Il faut toujours avoir un petit quart d’heure d’avance”, which means “we should always be a quarter of an hour ahead.” It served him well. And you might say that there was more than just a quarter of an hour between him and the rest. In fact, there was – and still is – a world of difference.
CHANDON GLOBAL MAP
WE CRAFT EXCEPTIONAL SPARKLING WINES & EXPERIENCES BASED ON THE CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE WORLD
Chandon now calls four continents home. Each of our terroirs has posed its own challenges – but Chandon loves nothing better. We are a worldwide family; together, yet separate; sharing our knowledge and united by inspiration. The accents might be different, yes; but we speak the same language.
Since Robert-Jean de Vogüé took sparkling wine from its homeland to the rest of the world, others have followed suit. He had a saying he lived by: “Il faut toujours avoir un petit quart d’heure d’avance”, which means “we should always be a quarter of an hour ahead.” It served him well. And you might say that there was more than just a quarter of an hour between him and the rest. In fact, there was – and still is – a world of difference.
OUR MAISONS
THE ONLY DOMAINE WHERE THE SUN NEVER SETS,
EXPLORE OUR UNIQUE LOCATIONS
At Chandon, we have been crafting the most exceptional sparkling wines since our foundation in Argentina, in 1959. We form a passionate and bold community of winemakers located in unexpected lands across Argentina, Brazil, California, Australia, China and India.
BRAZIL
In 1973, Brazil’s Serra Gaúchawas were chosen for their excellent elevated vineyard sites and abundant rainfall, not to mention 100 or so years of impressive winemaking. The climate and soil had all the qualities needed to produce exceptional quality sparkling.
ARGENTINA
Chandon Argentina, born of Robert-Jean de Vogüé’s original vision, broke ground in 1959 in the Andean foothills near Mendoza. A world of unique sparkling wines was born.
INDIA
Old meets new with Chandon India. The most recent addition to the family was founded in 2014 at the foot of the Western Ghats mountain range, near the ancient city of Nashik. Following in the pioneering and entrepreneurial footsteps of our founders, this dynamic operation is pure Chandon: it is crafting innovative bubbles from unusual grapes in an unexpected land.
CHINA
Chandon China arrived on the scene in 2013, in Ningxia, the country’s top premium winemaking region. Nestling at the foot of Helan Mountain, it had been identified back in 1985 by a team of experts led by Philippe Coulon as having top potential. It took us almost 30 years to settle in this new wineland and release our first CHANDON bottles.
OUR MAISONS
THE ONLY DOMAINE WHERE THE SUN NEVER SETS, EXPLORE OUR UNIQUE LOCATIONS
CALIFORNIA
California was the next territory to beckon, after Robert-Jean became convinced of the potential of this region for quality sparkling. The idea was considered revolutionary both in France and in America. The United States had always been a minor market for wines and US demand for California sparkling wines was even smaller. Chandon California was founded in 1973, betting on the emergence of a sparkling wine market, and began producing under the direction of Dawnine Dyer in terroirs found by John Wright.
BRAZIL
In 1973, Brazil’s Serra Gaúchawas were chosen for their excellent elevated vineyard sites and abundant rainfall, not to mention 100 or so years of impressive winemaking. The climate and soil had all the qualities needed to produce exceptional quality sparkling.
ARGENTINA
Chandon Argentina, born of Robert-Jean de Vogüé’s original vision, broke ground in 1959 in the Andean foothills near Mendoza. A world of unique sparkling wines was born.
INDIA
Old meets new with Chandon India. The most recent addition to the family was founded in 2014 at the foot of the Western Ghats mountain range, near the ancient city of Nashik. Following in the pioneering and entrepreneurial footsteps of our founders, this dynamic operation is pure Chandon: it is crafting innovative bubbles from unusual grapes in an unexpected land.
CHINA
Chandon China arrived on the scene in 2013, in Ningxia, the country’s top premium winemaking region. Nestling at the foot of Helan Mountain, it had been identified back in 1985 by a team of experts led by Philippe Coulon as having top potential. It took us almost 30 years to settle in this new wineland and release our first CHANDON bottles.
JOIN THE CLUB
At Chandon, we truly believe we're better together.
At Chandon, we genuinely believe we’re better together. Club Chandon is more than just an opportunity to explore our exceptional sparkling wines. Each showcase is the perfect way for us to share with you who we are and why we’re so passionate about what we do. More importantly, it gives us the chance to get to know you over a glass or two of sparkling. Win, win.
Club Chandon isn’t your typical wine delivery – it’s a seasonal showcase of our finest méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines, carefully selected by our winemakers, beautifully presented and delivered straight to your door.
JOIN THE CLUB
At Chandon, we truly believe we're better together.
At Chandon, we genuinely believe we’re better together. Club Chandon is more than just an opportunity to explore our exceptional sparkling wines. Each showcase is the perfect way for us to share with you who we are and why we’re so passionate about what we do. More importantly, it gives us the chance to get to know you over a glass or two of sparkling. Win, win.
Club Chandon isn’t your typical wine delivery – it’s a seasonal showcase of our finest méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines, carefully selected by our winemakers, beautifully presented and delivered straight to your door.