LVMH, scrupulously even-handed acronym for Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton, the French luxury goods conglomerate which has a dominant interest in the champagne industry, not least through its subsidiaries, which include moët & chandon, krug, veuve clicquot, and Ruinart, and a leading position in Cognac through Hennessy. In 2004 the group acquired Glenmorangie and Ardbeg malt whiskies and other spirit brands including Belvedere vodka. LVMH’s still wine assets include cloudy bay, Cape Mentelle in western australia, Terrazas de los Andes in mendoza, Numanthia in toro, and in 2014 it acquired Clos des Lambrays in morey-st-denis. Since the late 1950s the company has developed a substantial position in the premium sparkling wine market through the creation and development of the Chandon brand. It now produces Chandon in Argentina, Brazil, the US, Australia, China, and India. In 1998, LVMH acquired a substantial stake in Ch d’yquem, while its chief executive Bernard Arnault became co-owner of Ch cheval blanc. For more details of LVMH’s champagne interests, see moët & chandon.
