Moët & Chandon’s iconic hot air balloon, ‘Spirit of 1743’, graced the skies of the City of Gold for the first time last month.

Since its maiden voyage in 1990, the Spirit of 1743 has journey around the globe, traversing the skies of the world’s great capitals and iconic landmarks, including the Great Wall of China, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower.

The cork-shaped balloon, which has visited 21 countries, arrived in Johannesburg for the first time to launch the Moët & Chandon Golden Glow experience in the city and offered an ideal perspective from which to view the golden sunset.

On March 29, Moët & Chandon Business Development Director, Charles de Pontevès, celebrated with Joburg’s celebrities and friends of the brand when they raised their glasses at 17:43, in recognition of the founding year of the company and to acknowledge the golden hour that marks the closing of the day.

The sunset hot-air balloon Golden Glow experience was held over three days – April 1 to 3 – at the Riboville Boutique Hotel in Midrand.