Introduction
It's hard to imagine a world without Dom Pérignon champagne. The legendary beverage has been around since the 17th century, when it was made by monks at the Abbey of Hautvillers in France. Today, it is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy, which also owns Louis Vuitton—and ever since Louis XIV declared that he would only drink "the wine of kings," Dom Pérignon has been considered one of the most prestigious brands in the world. While there are many different types of champagne produced today (such as rosé), only two qualify as being Dom Pérignon: Brut and Rosé.
When he first made champagne, Dom Pérignon thought he'd made a mistake.
When he first made champagne, Dom Pérignon thought he'd made a mistake. The wine wasn't sparkling like other wines he'd tried before, and when he tasted it, it didn't taste good. He sent the barrels to his assistant to be shipped away for storage and told him that his efforts were in vain—the wine was ruined. But as luck would have it (and Dom Pérignon's great skill), those barrels were actually just sitting there fermenting with no cork or top on them: what we know now as "méthode champenoise" was born!
Dom Pérignon was actually blind, not just a monk who was so dedicated to his work that he never saw daylight.
Although Dom Pérignon is often portrayed as a monk who was so dedicated to his work that he never saw daylight, the truth is much more interesting.
In reality, Dom Pérignon was a winemaker and champagne maker who lived during the 1600s. He was famous for inventing champagne as we know it today: sparkling wine made from grapes grown in vineyards near Reims, France.
But what's less well known is that Dom Pérignon himself was blind—and he didn't become blind until after his discovery!
How did this happen? Well, one night when Dom Pérignon was sleeping at the monastery where he lived (he used to be a monk), an angel came down from heaven with two glasses of Champagne created by God himself....
Dom Pérignon was the first winemaker to see the potential of blending several grape varieties together to make champagne.
Dom Pérignon was the first winemaker to see the potential of blending several grape varieties together to make champagne. While he didn't invent the technique, he was one of its earliest practitioners and most vocal advocates.
He believed that by combining different grapes, you could create a more complex flavor profile than any single grape would allow on its own. He also thought that blending could help prevent certain problems from arising in finished wines—for example, if one varietal was vulnerable to rot due to weather conditions or pests, another might be able to step in as a substitute if blended together with it beforehand (a practice known today as barrel aging).
The fame of Dom Pérignon spread far and wide, as its bottles have carried labels dating back to the 1700s.
The fame of Dom Pérignon spread far and wide, as its bottles have carried labels dating back to the 1700s. In the mid-1800s, the cellar master at Dom Pérignon's estate found a bottle with a label stating that it was produced by Pierre Pérignon in 1668; he added his own name to it and placed it on display in his wine salon. This bottle is now known as "The Bottle of 1725."
Dom Pérignon was the first winemaker to see the potential of blending several grape varieties together to make champagne. He also pioneered techniques that allowed him to produce sparkling wines using less sugar than others did at the time (which made them lighter and more aromatic)
The name of the brand comes from its close association with one of France's most prestigious abbeys.
The founder of the abbey was a monk named Dom Pérignon, who was born in 1638. As a young man, he spent time in Italy before taking a job as cellar master at the Abbey of Hautvillers. The abbey was founded by monks from Beaune and became known for its wine production.
The name “Dom” is short for “Dominus,” which means Lord or Master in Latin. So Dom Pérignon essentially means Lord Pérignon (which sounds pretty fancy!). But don't worry—you don't need to know any Latin to enjoy your next glass of Champagne; there's also an English translation: Lord Peregrine!
Although it's often seen as synonymous with luxury and celebrity, Dom Pérignon's story is about centuries of painstaking dedication to quality.
Although it's often seen as synonymous with luxury and celebrity, Dom Pérignon's story is about centuries of painstaking dedication to quality.
Dom Pérignon was a monk who lived in the Abbey of Hautvillers from 1668 until his death in 1715. He is credited with being the first person to blend grapes together and use corks on bottles.
Its history is closely intertwined with that of another well-known luxury brand, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), which owns it today.
Despite its current status as a luxury wine brand, Dom Pérignon's history is closely intertwined with that of another well-known luxury brand. In 1988, LVMH purchased Dom Pérignon and integrated it into its portfolio of brands. The company is known as the world's largest luxury group and owns many famous products such as Louis Vuitton handbags and perfumes, Moët & Chandon champagne, Hennessy cognac and Perrier mineral water—to name but a few. Owned by Bernard Arnault (a French billionaire who also happens to be one of the richest people in the world), LVMH has grown into an empire that produces or distributes over 70 percent of all fine wines consumed worldwide.
Dom Perignon has been making drinks for more than 300 years, making it one of the oldest drink companies in the world
Dom Pérignon has been making drinks for more than 300 years, making it one of the oldest drink companies in the world. Dom Pérignon was the first winemaker to see the potential of blending several grape varieties together to make champagne. The fame of Dom Pérignon spread far and wide, as its bottles have carried labels dating back to the 1700s.
Conclusion
Dom Pérignon is one of the most famous champagne brands in the world, but its story is also one of centuries of painstaking dedication to quality. Its history is closely intertwined with that of another well-known luxury brand, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), which owns it today. There's more than meets the eye when it comes to Dom Pérignon's impressive longevity—and there's no better way to celebrate its 300th anniversary than by raising a glass for this legendary winemaker!