Pop Goes Chandon: Celebrating 10 Years With Vintage 2015

When asked if India is still a “wild card entry,” the answer was clear: Absolutely! India, with its booming economy and growing base of billionaires and millionaires, has swiftly transformed into a key player in the luxury sector. As Ipsita Das, Managing Director of Moët Hennessy India, explains, “India is a wild card in many ways. Who would’ve thought 20 years ago that India would emerge as a global powerhouse, not only economically, but in luxury consumption? The country’s rapid growth and aspiration-driven culture have positioned it as more than just a wild card—it is now the “card.”

It’s hard not to agree with her if you are abreast with the rapid foray of global luxury brands making a beeline for India, and the mushrooming launches of premium spirits by homegrown and global brands alike—some even priced upwards of a lakh—in the country. A booming Indian market driven towards premiumisation is what Moet Hennessy India, a subsidiary of the global luxury powerhouse Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, is betting on. “It is the card that is going to take Chandon to its new heights,” Das tells us as she shares how the brand is planning to celebrate its 10 years with a limited edition Chandon Vintage 2015.

Chandon, the only winery under Moët Hennessy’s umbrella in India, has been pivotal in introducing sparkling wine to a market that was predominantly focused on whiskey. Over the past decade, Chandon has been at the forefront of this journey, creating an entire category for sparkling wine in India. “Indians, while aspirational, love adding a unique touch of Indianness to everything,” Das shares, highlighting the brand’s ongoing innovation and its ability to adapt to local tastes. “Over the last ten years we have introduced several new formats for consumption of Chandon, such as the Rosé-O-Clock, Brunches and Bubbles, Party Starters, et al that have become synonymous with celebration and luxury, marking just the beginning of a long, exciting journey for Chandon in India. We’ve seen and read several reports over the last many years, that the luxury market will reach the 200 billion market rate by 2030. Chandon continues to be the card for us, because Chandon is LVMH’s only winery unit.”

In an exclusive tête-à-tête with Outlook Luxe, Das highlights how India has gone from being the wild card to the winning card, the exciting trends and the future of premium spirits.

On celebrating 10 years with Chandon Vintage 2015

Chandon’s ethos is deeply rooted in bold innovation and meticulous craftsmanship. Over the past decade, the brand has consistently pushed boundaries—not just in India, but globally. The launch of the limited-edition Chandon Vintage 2015 is a tribute to this journey, marking 10 years of craftsmanship. It’s crafted from Chandon’s inaugural grape harvest at the Nashik winery, carefully aged to perfection. “We believe there is no better way to put nostalgia in a bottle along with what Chandon stands for, which is craftsmanship and innovation, than our limited edition Vintage 2015.”

Award-Winning Wines and India’s Place on the Global Stage

Chandon’s consistent wins at prestigious competitions like the Decanter World Wine Awards—where the Brut, Rosé, and Aurva secured silver medals—speak volumes. With over 40 global awards in the past decade, Chandon has placed India firmly on the global wine map. “What was earlier a stage only for the Old World wines, today have opened for the New World wines as well.Who thought we would talk globally about ChandonAurva that we launched last October, and is probably one of the most luxury wines that India has ever produced?” Chandon, as a brand, are a bunch of six wineries from four different continents, and our collaboration and our know-howfrom the House of Moët,combined with local terroir, has paved the way for India’s emergence as a serious contender in the global wine scene.

Luxury Wine Trends and the Rise of Rosé

The trend towards wine consumption, which started about 10 to 20 years back, has picked up in the last decade or so. And the premiumisation segment, or the luxury wine consumption has really picked up in the last four to five years. Wine, once reserved for special occasions, is now an integral part of brunch culture and casual indulgence. Indians are embracing diverse origins—whether from Bordeaux, Napa Valley, or India itself. Notably, rosé is witnessing a surge in popularity. In our LVMH portfolio, we have quite a few wines, but very recently we got two new Rosé Provence wines which are Whispering Angel, coming from the Château d’Esclans, as well as Minotti. We’ve launched Whispering Angel in India, and it has resonated with this trend, highlighting the growing appreciation for Rosés.So, I think from both, origin and the various kinds of wine, people are experimenting.

Wine as an Investment and Sparkling Wine’s Growing Appeal

The other thing that is changing the wine drinking trend in India is wine collecting. Wine collecting is gaining traction in India, with luxury wines becoming prized investments.It is not just for your home bar, but it’s also become an investment choice for the ones who are very well versed with that segment.Sparkling wines, though still a small segment at 0.01% of the market, are poised for growth. “I think that’s a category that will unleash. There will come a time when sparkling wine will be the go-to refreshing drink. You don’t need an occasion for it.”

Innovations in Packaging and Product Development

Chandon has long embraced packaging innovation, we have had the Think Pink campaign, the Manish Malhotra sleeve, and the Warli bottles. Very recently, around the world, we introduced bottlesdepicting our six wineries The introduction of Chandon Minis that can be popped anywhere and all by yourself has been a game-changer, it keeps the product in the correct quality and with the correct fizz.Now, will the packaging look like a can someday? Maybe yes. “While wine cans might not be on the horizon, if it happens it will have to have a luxurious look and feel. While packaging innovation is extremely important for us, the quality of the liquid inside the bottle that we put inneeds to be intact.”

Global Chandon Wineries and Local Expressions

Chandon’s six wineries across four continents—Argentina, Brazil, Napa Valley, Australia, China, and India—embody the brand’s philosophy of blending global expertise with local terroir. We started in Argentina in 1959, went into Brazil, and then to the Napa Valley in the U.S., Australia and of course, China and India are the newest babies in this portfolio. Our Maison and our centre lie in France, as the founder of Chandon, Robert-Jean de Vogüé, who was earlier the president of Moët, founded the companykeeping in mind that, what Moët or the entire champagne as a category will always be limited. And there will come a time when we will not have enough champagne for everyone. The idea to move beyond the Champagne region was to find the best of the terroirs that can make the best of the sparkling wines in the way that we have created Moët back in the Champagne region. So, with that in mind, we have about 1400 hectares across all continents. “We actually have the term, ‘it’s the domain where the sun never sets’. So, from Australia to China to India and then Brazil, Argentina and U.S., you’ll always have the sun above you, whichever winery you are in, 24 hours of the day.”

The Rise of Indian Bartending and Mixology

Indian bartenders are making waves internationally, with several ranking among the top in global competitions like Hennessy’s, that is a global bartending competition happening once a year. Last year, I think we had three out of the top ten from India, while this year, we have, I think one or two from the top ten from India.“We’re just getting started. Indians love experimenting, whether it’s a sweet cocktail, or a sugar free cocktail, or a savoury cocktail, and the Indian bartending scene is going to have a massive time in the next few years.” The fusion of local and global mixology trends ensures that India’s bartending scene has a long runway ahead. I recently discovered Bar Outrigger in Goa, it’s a rum bar, and I feel it is really pushing the boundaries, and bringing in so much innovation in the cocktail space.

Keeping up with Evolving Preferences and Homegrown Brands

I think homegrown is a trend that has happened first in the wine sector in India, and Chandon India was an output of that. Moët Hennessy obviously has a great mix in the portfolio of both international products within India and what we import. Whether it is our champagnes into the Moët, or the Dom Perignon, or the Veuve Clicquot, or our Glenmorangie and Ardbeg whiskeys, or whether it’s Belvedere, and the list goes on.We believe that as a portfolio, there needs to be a great mix of what we grow in India, which is our beloved Chandon, and what we bring from around the world. I think there will be innovation on both sides. With Chandon India, we believe that we are in the journey of creating the category, and while we create the category, we are catering to the taste profile of the evolving Indian audience. Hence, we are proud of our Chandon Brut, or the Chandon Rosé, or the Chandon Delice; we’ve seen a 40 per cent sales coming from Delice.  The Chandon Aurva, which is our red still wine and now the Vintage 2015 are all about catering to the evolving market dynamics and the evolving tastes for Indians.

Sustainability in Every Sip: Chandon’s Commitment to a Greener Future

Sustainability is more than a buzzword for Chandon—it’s a philosophy woven into every step of its production process. “As business owners, it’s not just about numbers. The environment and sustainability are equally critical.” Within Chandon, we follow a philosophy of conscious craft, which guides everything, from energy consumption to water management. In Nashik, where the brand’s winery is located, sustainability takes center stage. Solar power meets 60% of the energy needs, while drip irrigation minimises water usage, and 100% of water used in production is recycled. I am proud to say that the red wine Chandon Aurva bottle is one of the lightest in the entire Moët Hennessy global portfolio.“Reducing the carbon footprint is not just a goal—it’s part of our DNA.” By utilising lighter bottles and optimising production practices, Chandon has reduced its carbon footprint by 550 tonnes annually, reaffirming its commitment to sustainability.

Exciting New Launches To Look Forward To

Among the most exciting upcoming launches is Glenmorangie’s Tale of Ice Cream. This innovative whisky series exemplifies the brand’s playful, experiential approach, making it a standout in the Indian market. Alongside this, Glenmorangie will unveil revamped age variants of its 12, 15, and 18-Year-Old whiskies, delivering a fresh, new-age take on classic expressions. Innovation isn’t limited to products. Moët Hennessy plans to reimagine how it curates experiences for Indian consumers, embracing new formats that enhance engagement and elevate the brand’s appeal. “As Indian tastes evolve, so will we.”