🍷 Dom Pérignon
A 17th-century monk and winemaker in Champagne who improved blends.
Dom Pérignon was a Benedictine monk of the 17th century. He lived at the abbey of Hautvillers in Champagne and was in charge of its wine cellars. His life spanned 1638 to 1715.
His merit lies in improving the wines of the region. He watched the harvest closely, pressed black grapes gently so the juice stayed pale, and blended grapes from different plots. This made the wine even and complex.
A popular legend says he invented Champagne and cried "I am drinking stars". Historians regard this as a pretty invention: bubbles in Champagne wine had been noticed before him, and sparkling wine developed gradually. So his name is linked with sparkling wine, but not as its inventor.
Later a prestigious Champagne was named after him. Dom Pérignon is also tied to the theme of monasteries and wine: in the Middle Ages monasteries preserved and developed winemaking.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Monasteries and wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Sparkling wine
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dom Pérignon?
A 17th-century Benedictine monk at Hautvillers abbey in Champagne, in charge of the wine cellars.
Did Dom Pérignon invent Champagne?
No, that is a common legend. He improved wines and blends, while sparkling wine developed gradually.
Why does a Champagne carry his name?
A prestigious Champagne was later named after the monk in his memory.
Similar
Sources
- Wikipedia (en): Dom Pérignon (monk)
- Wikipedia (de): Dom Pérignon (Mönch)
- Wikipedia (fr): Dom Pérignon
- Wikipedia (uk): Дом Периньйон
- Wikidata Q348666