Dom Pérignon (monk)

Lore & Background

Pérignon was born to a clerk of the local marshal in Sainte-Menehould, the youngest of seven children. He joined the boys' choir school of the Benedictine Abbey of Moiremont, later studied at the Jesuit college in Châlons-sur-Marne, and entered the Benedictine Order at the Abbey of Saint-Vanne near Verdun at age 17. Under his stewardship, the abbey doubled its vineyard holdings, and he worked to improve their product with the help of Dom Thierry Ruinart. In Pérignon's era, in-bottle refermentation was a serious problem, causing bottles to explode. He tried to avoid refermentation, but introduced extensive blending of grapes from multiple vineyards, a hallmark of modern Champagne. He advocated using only Pinot noir for fine wine, aggressive pruning, harvesting in cool damp conditions, and avoiding bruised or rotten grapes. He favored multiple presses to minimize maceration and supported natural winemaking without added substances. The most photographed statue of him stands at Moët & Chandon's headquarters in Épernay; a more artistic bronze statue was unveiled in Hautvillers in summer 2022, incorporating a champagne bottle and grapevine motifs.

Reader's Guide

Dom Pérignon's significance lies in his practical improvements to winemaking in the Champagne region during the 17th century, particularly his emphasis on blending grapes from multiple vineyards and his methods for pruning, harvesting, and pressing. These practices helped raise the quality of still wines from the region. However, popular myths—such as his invention of sparkling champagne and the quote 'Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!'—are not supported by historical evidence. The quote first appeared in a late-19th-century advertisement, and sparkling wine did not become dominant until the mid-19th century. His legacy is preserved in the prestige cuvée named after him, produced by Moët & Chandon, which now owns the remains of his monastery. The misconceptions surrounding his life, including that he was blind or that he introduced blending to Champagne, stem from later accounts and misreadings of his practices. His work remains a touchstone in the history of champagne, even as the actual invention of the sparkling style belongs to later generations.

Did You Know?

• Dom Pérignon was buried in a section of the abbey cemetery traditionally reserved only for abbots, as a sign of honor.
• The quote 'Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!' first appeared in a print advertisement in the late 19th century, not from Pérignon himself.
• He tried to avoid refermentation in bottles because it often caused explosions that could destroy an entire year's production.
• The two cellar keys on his statue's belt sash represent the coat of arms of the village of Hautvillers.