To celebrate Benoît Gouez’s 20th anniversary as Cellar Master at Moët & Chandon, the champagne house has created a special Grand Vintage Champagne collection. The Legacy Case, presented in a beautifully crafted Rimowa suitcase, is not only a tribute to Gouez’s career and craftsmanship, but also to his friendship with Global Brand Ambassador Roger Federer. Only three of these exclusive cases exist worldwide, and proceeds from their sale will go to the Roger Federer Foundation.
By Anja Van Der Borght
You joined Moët & Chandon back in 1998, a few years before becoming Cellar Master. What stands out most from that early period?
BG: “When I finished school, there were two wine regions I definitely did not want to work in: Bordeaux and Champagne (laughs). As an outsider, I had this idea that Champagne was a generic category where winemakers simply reproduced the same wines every year. I wasn’t exactly thrilled. But then I had a really good feeling after meeting Philippe Coulon, the former Head Winemaker at Moët & Chandon, and I decided to join the team. Very quickly, I realized how wrong I had been. Champagne is all about diversity, innovation, and pushing boundaries. More than 27 years later, I truly believe that the Champagne region offers the most diverse expressions in the world. I also vividly remember the rain in 1998—it felt like it rained all year long in Champagne. And yet, it stayed dry during harvest, almost as if someone had decided to give us a break so we could do our work. I didn’t expect much from that vintage, but 1998 turned out to be one of the greatest ever. It was the first time I experienced what I now call ‘the Champagne miracle.”
Roger, 1998 marked your international breakthrough. Did you have any sense back then of the extraordinary journey ahead?
RF: “Not really. I just hoped it would be a beautiful and long journey—that it wouldn’t end abruptly after two years. I hoped I wouldn’t have to give up my dream of becoming a professional tennis player, and that I’d one day play on Centre Court at Wimbledon. 1998 was a special year for me. I ended the season ranked No. 1 in the juniors. Technically, I wasn’t old enough to drink yet—but I still did, because we were celebrating a great year. I had won Wimbledon in juniors, climbed to No. 300 in the ATP rankings, and was obviously looking forward to cracking the top 100. So yes, 1998 really was the year I started to believe that maybe I could become the best in men’s tennis.”
Do you still remember your first meeting?
RF: “I still remember our first meeting in 2012 like it was yesterday. I had just become an ambassador for Moët & Chandon and met Benoît shortly afterwards. From the very beginning, our conversations flowed effortlessly. We connected through shared values such as precision, tradition, and a genuine passion for our work. What started as a collaboration has grown into a true friendship over the years. My relationship with Benoît has also become much more personal. We’ve shared many moments – both big and small – and I truly admire his passion and attention to detail. The Legacy Case beautifully reflects that journey. This collection brings together our shared values and cherished memories.”
BG: “The first time we met, I found Roger Federer to be very approachable, humble, and genuinely interested in my world. He made me feel at ease. And I think that’s the foundation of friendship – that sense of humility, sincerity, generosity…”
Do you remember your first collaboration?
RF: “Well, we had to work together, unfortunately for Benoît.”
BG: “Someone had to do it.”
RF: “Yes (laughs). But no, honestly, it was a pleasure to get to know Benoît in Épernay, in Champagne, a region that was new to me. Of course, through my travels and all the victories we celebrated, I often came into contact with champagne. But to officially become a brand ambassador for Moët & Chandon and then meet someone like Benoît, who is so deeply rooted in the craft and has so many stories to tell, is amazing. We don’t see each other very often, but we love doing events or film/photoshoots together – especially with a great personality like Yannick Alléno. Being surrounded by that kind of people is truly inspiring and motivating for me.”
(Editor’s note: Alléno, the French Michelin-starred chef of Maison Prunier in Paris, previously collaborated with Moët & Chandon for the ‘Moët in Paris by Allénos’ pop-up restaurant. He also offers an exclusive chef’s table experience at his Paris restaurant, Pavillon Ledoyen, in partnership with Moët & Chandon.)
Which moment from your friendship with Federer has truly stayed with you?
BG: “Moët & Chandon organizes Effervescence every year, a series of exclusive celebrations leading up to the holidays. One evening, Roger was there with his wife, Mirka. At some point, as he had people to meet, he asked me, ‘Benoît, can I entrust Mirka to you?’ I think that was a sign of real trust.”
What inspired the creation of the Legacy Case, and what considerations played a role, including the choice of Rimowa? Roger Federer, you’re also an ambassador for Rimowa.
RF: “The case reflects highlights from both my career and personal life. I love traveling — I’ve traveled so much, collected so many experiences and memories — and I wanted something that discreetly pays tribute to that; not only the big wins, but also the small moments that shaped me.”
BG: “The Legacy Case was inspired by a shared vision of excellence, craftsmanship, and respect for heritage between Roger, Rimowa, and myself. It was essential that the case reflect these values. The Rimowa Classic was specifically chosen for its design — it presents the champagne bottles beautifully while also protecting them during transport, which is ideal for wine lovers.”
You selected seven champagnes from the Grand Vintage Collection. Which moments from Federer’s career or your friendship do you associate with each of these champagnes?
BG: “Each champagne in the Legacy Case is linked to a key moment in the career of Roger Federer and reflects the shared values between him and me: dedication, resilience, excellence, and generosity. So, the Legacy Case primarily celebrates our friendship — but also two extraordinary journeys.”
Which of the seven selected champagnes is your personal favorite?
BG: “That’s a difficult one, as most of them have something special. In Champagne, we don’t declare a vintage every year. But 2006 might be the most symbolic one because it was the first vintage I announced as Cellar Master. Of course, I was concerned, as it was quite an extreme wine year — very different from what we had seen before. It was one of the first vintages influenced by global warming. But I’m so glad we made it, because since 2006, we’ve learned how to adapt to climate change and global warming. It’s also been very useful to prepare for the future and to better face the challenges we now deal with.”
Did you actively contribute to the creation of the Legacy Case?
RF: “The Legacy Case is truly the result of a collaborative effort. I’m happy that Benoît and I can celebrate our journey in this way — even more so because the proceeds from the limited edition go to the Roger Federer Foundation. I founded the foundation 21 years ago to help children living in poverty gain access to quality education in Southern Africa. My mother is from Johannesburg, so there were many different ways we approached it. Of course, the foundation has become much more professional over the last 10 to 15 years, and we’ve really been able to make a big difference in the lives of many children. That’s why I’m always grateful when people think about my foundation and we get the chance to talk about it — it’s so important to give something back.”
Roger, could you tell us a bit about 2009?
RF: “2009 might have been something like a golden summer for me. 2008 was also beautiful, but I had to deal with mononucleosis, so it felt like a bit of a setback. In 2009, I finally won the French Open after waiting six years — hoping Rafa(el Nadal) would lose early one year so I could break through. As we know, he was my kryptonite — for me and so many others on clay, especially here in Paris. 2009 was special because by winning the French Open, I equaled the Grand Slam record of 14 titles. A month later, I won Wimbledon, and it’s always hard to win both the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back. The 2009 final was also very special because in 2008 I had that epic match against Rafa. Some call it the greatest match ever, so to come back the next year and win in another epic final meant I broke the Grand Slam record. And then a month later, my identical twin daughters were born, and I also got married that year. So, 2009 was clearly one of those super years for me.”
For Benoît Gouez, 2022 marked the unveiling of his collection, Impériale Création No.1. For Roger Federer, it was a very emotional farewell. Was it difficult to leave the game?
RF: “It was tough and emotional, but also good and beautiful. I’m glad that the moment turned out so well. I also loved that it happened in London during the Laver Cup, an event I co-organized with my agent Tony. My family was there, my kids were on the court, my biggest rivals and teammates were present, and also legends of the game like Björn Borg, John McEnroe, and Stefan Edberg — all men I deeply admire. There was just so much there that it felt perfect. And yes, it was a tough year. I had five or six surgeries on my right knee and was really struggling with it. So, in a way, it was also a relief to stop. Now I always joke when people ask how retirement is going. I say I should’ve retired much earlier — it’s so nice! (laughs) All in all, 2022 was wild and crazy.”
Benoît, can you tell us more about Collection Impériale Création No.1?
BG: “It’s a highlight of my career — a project I actually began 25 years ago. The ambitious idea was to add a new dimension to the champagne blending matrix and to explore different ways of aging. It took time to build the right reserves and to find the right balance. For Collection Impériale, I was seeking the highest expression of Moët & Chandon, and for that occasion, we introduced the concept of haute œnologie. In the world of wine, that represents the ultimate, most refined creative expression. To me, Collection Impériale is like Yannick Alléno’s haute gastronomie, or haute parfumerie, or haute couture. It’s about blending the finest vintages with the utmost refinement, aging, creativity, time, and all the values I wanted to express through Collection Impériale.”
You’ve both reached where you are today thanks to your dedication, your values — but also because you’re both perfectionists?
BG: “In my case, I think being a perfectionist means staying true to tradition, origin, and style — while constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. It’s a delicate balance, but that’s exactly what I’m striving for: respecting the past while always pursuing renewal and perfection. But ultimately, the greatest reward is the appreciation of the consumer. You know, the joy and the pleasure with which people celebrate… that’s what matters most.”
