Dom Pérignon, not only a vintage champagne!
Dom Pérignon is renowned not only for being a prestigious Champagne, but also for the historical figure behind the name, a monk from the Benedictine Order. Pierre Pérignon (his birth name) was born late 1638 into a bourgeois family in the town of Sainte-Menehould. While he did not invent Champagne nor the méthode champenoise (the traditional method for making Champagne), he made significant contributions to its production.
Local registers show that from an early age he took part in the harvest and maintenance of the vines that his father, an officer of the court, owned. He later entered the Jesuit College in Châlons-sur-Marne and ultimately decided to pursue a religious vocation instead of a career in law.
Pierre Pérignon later worked as a cellar master at the Abbey of Hautvillers, near Epernay, where he made advancements in wine-making techniques, particularly in blending grapes from different vineyards, and improving the quality and stability of the wines produced in the region. He also pioneered the use of cork stoppers to prevent spoilage and facilitate aging.
This significant role bestowed upon him the honorary title Dom, stemming from the Latin word Dominus, signifying Lord. His dedication to excellence and innovation laid the foundation for the reputation of Champagne as a region capable of producing world-class sparkling wines.
Dom Pérignon administered the abbey until his death on September 14, 1715. His legacy continues to be celebrated today through the iconic Champagne brand that bears his name, as well as through the ongoing appreciation for his contributions to the art and science of wine-making. His final resting place in the chancel of the abbey church serves as a fitting tribute.
Dom Perignon, a renowned oenologist and businessman
Dom Perignon’s expertise extended beyond the art of wine-making; he excelled not only as a wine-grower and wine-maker, but also as a merchant. As a brilliant oenologist, he conducted numerous experiments throughout his lifetime to enhance the quality of wine, which had previously been rather mediocre. He dedicated himself tirelessly to refining the blend of the finest grapes from various varieties and harvests, ensuring their preservation in bottles to create exceptional wine. The remarkable wines produced by Hautvillers Abbey found their way onto the table of King Louis XIV, marking a turning point for the abbey and the village, now recognized as the birthplace of Champagne wine. This elevated the reputation of its sommelier, Dom Perignon, as a paragon of excellence.
The debate over the true ‘inventor’ of Champagne
According to history, or legend, the credit for inventing the Champagne method often goes to Dom Perignon. However, skeptics raise doubts, arguing that he couldn’t have been the originator, as sparkling wine requires hermetically sealed bottles with a stopper, a technology not available during his time. They further emphasize that the royal decree permitting the bottling of Champagne wine was issued in 1728, a full 13 years after Dom Perignon’s death.
In contrast, proponents of Dom Perignon’s role suggest that the monk might have utilized beeswax to seal bottles of white wine and introduced sugar to incite a second fermentation, thus creating the characteristic effervescence and foam associated with Champagne wines.
Centuries after his death, discerning the truth is indeed challenging, especially considering the absence of explicit references to sparkling wine production in Dom Perignon’s or his contemporaries’ records.
Historical documents solely attest to the still wines of the Abbey of Hautvillers, as Champagne wines during Dom Perignon’s time were predominantly still.
Nonetheless, it’s reasonable to speculate that Dom Perignon, a passionate oenologist with a keen spirit of observation and inquiry, may have studied fermentation phenomena and possibly experimented with his wines.
However, it’s uncertain whether he would have risked venturing into the production and commercialization of sparkling wine, a nascent technique at the time. The unpredictability of harvests, which significantly influenced wine quantity and quality, would have added further complexity to such endeavours.
Moreover, even 120 years after his passing, Champagne production remained unreliable, resulting in its rarity and high cost. Ultimately, it wasn’t until 1821 that Dom Perignon was retrospectively attributed as the ‘inventor’ of sparkling Champagne wines. However, this theory lacked documentary evidence even at that time, highlighting the enduring mystery surrounding his role in Champagne’s evolution.
Did the English invent sparkling Champagne?
The notion that the English may have played a role in inventing sparkling Champagne may be disconcerting for some French people. However, historical evidence suggests that the Champagne method was indeed known during Dom Perignon’s lifetime. Documents dating back to 1660 reveal that English wine merchants purchased barrels of still wine from Champagne, where they then added sugar to induce fermentation before bottling. Notably, industrial bottling techniques were developed in England around 1625.
Despite this evidence, the precise method by which the English hermetically sealed their bottles remains uncertain. As such, the debate regarding the origins of sparkling Champagne remains unresolved. So Champagne enthusiasts, the decision of who invented sparkling Champagne is yours to make… As for me, I’m biased towards Dom Pérignon!
Dom Pérignon Champagne
Dom Pérignon Champagne is a prestigious Champagne produced by the Moët & Chandon House. Their vineyards stretch over sections of the historic Abbey of Hautvillers, some purchased from the Champagne Mercier House, where Dom Perignon worked and refined his wine-making techniques.
Dom Perignon Champagne is renowned for its exceptional quality, complexity, and aging potential. It is typically produced in limited quantities and is often associated with special occasions and celebrations due to its prestige and reputation for excellence in the world of Champagne.
The fact that the vintage Champagne was first produced in 1921, but not available for sale until 1936, underscores the meticulous process and aging requirements associated with Dom Perignon Champagne.
The selective production, exclusively during the best years with the finest grapes from premier vineyards harvested in the same year, highlights the commitment to quality and excellence that defines this prestigious Champagne.
How to get to Hautvillers village in Champagne?
Department of Marne – Abbaye de Hautvillers
By train – SNCF:
– CDG airport T2 (TGV station) to Epernay
– Paris Gare de l’Est to Epernay
– Then Epernay to Hautvillers: By Coach #160 or Taxi
By car:
– Paris to Hautvillers 142kms – A4 motorway – Take exit 21-Dormans towards Dormans/Épernay/Fismes – Take D23E5, D23, D1, D3 and D1
– CDG airport to Hautvillers 150kms: A3 in Roissy-en-France – Follow A104 and A4 to D980 in Villers-Agron-Aiguizy. Take exit 21-Dormans as above
Photos via Wikimedia Commons photos: Header by Bruno Rijsman CC BY-SA 2.0 – Statue by Palauenc05 CC BY-SA 4.0 – Vintage 1999 bottle by PlatinumSunlight Public Domain – Grave stone by E-monceaux CC BY-SA 3.0
