Moët & Chandon has announced plans to establish an additional 15 kilometres of ecological corridors in 2026, bringing its total network under the Natura Nostra programme to 95 kilometres as it moves closer to its 100-kilometre target by 2027.
The announcement was made during the sixth edition of the Maison’s Biodiversity Days, which brought together 50 winegrowers, partners, local stakeholders and international journalists at its historic Les Partelaines vineyard in Champagne, France.
Launched in 2021, Natura Nostra is a collective environmental initiative that brings together Moët & Chandon, winegrowing partners, local communities and public authorities to protect biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of the Champagne region.
The annual Biodiversity Days combine ecological restoration activities with discussions and demonstrations on sustainable viticulture, climate adaptation and vineyard conservation.
This year’s activities included a group tree and hedgerow planting exercise at Les Partelaines, a historic vineyard parcel acquired by the Maison’s founder, Claude Moët, in the mid-18th century.
The latest planting extended an existing ecological corridor onto adjoining land owned by the municipality of Chouilly, bringing together the Maison, local authorities and a farmer in a shared conservation project.
The hedgerows and trees are expected to create habitats for local plant and animal species while improving soil stability and water retention.
Moët & Chandon President and CEO Sibylle Scherer said biodiversity conservation was essential to protecting Champagne’s vineyards and preparing the region for future environmental challenges.
“Champagne’s future begins with its roots. Biodiversity Days bring together the people who share responsibility for that future: our teams, our winegrowing partners, local leaders and the wider community around us,” said Scherer.
The programme also featured expert-led sessions examining the relationship between biodiversity, climate change and wine quality.
During a masterclass titled The Expression of Warm Years, Cellar Master Benoît Gouez and Estates Manager Reynald Loiseau guided participants through six Grand Vintage champagnes produced between 1999 and 2016, highlighting how changing weather conditions have influenced grape growing and winemaking.
The session examined different climatic conditions experienced during the vintages, including frost, drought, heavy rainfall and extreme summer temperatures, as well as the strategies the Maison is adopting to respond to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
Another session, The Alternative Paths of Viticulture, explored sustainable vineyard management practices, including precision viticulture, cover cropping, soil conservation and nature-based water management.
The discussions were led by the Maison’s vineyard and viticulture experts, who demonstrated how alternative farming approaches can improve soil fertility, reduce erosion and support biodiversity across vineyard landscapes.
Participants also visited Essentia, Moët & Chandon’s plant conservatory, where researchers study nearly 2,000 variations of regional grape varieties to understand their potential resilience to global warming.
Through the research, the Maison hopes to identify grapevine varieties and characteristics that could help future generations adapt to changing climatic conditions.
With 95 kilometres of ecological corridors expected by the end of 2026, Natura Nostra is positioning biodiversity conservation as a shared responsibility extending beyond the Maison’s own vineyards.
Moët & Chandon says the programme will continue bringing together winegrowers, communities and environmental stakeholders to protect the natural heritage of Champagne while strengthening the long-term resilience of its vineyards.