Dom Perignon

A Champagne of Choice for New Years

January 1, 2009
By: Julie McCallum,
Senior Staff

History of Dom Perignon from the Little books of the Diocese of Saginaw, inspired by Bishop Ken Untener.

Born in France in 1639, Pierre Perignon at the age of 20 took the vows of a Benedictine monk at the abbey of Hautvilliers which produced a variety of wines.

Pierre soon became a wine expert. Perhaps because he had become blind, he developed an extraordinary sense of smell and taste. He was able to tell immediately which grapes came from which vineyards. He learned to mix together various wines so that the qualities of each added to the quality of the others.

Pierre studied the particular qualities and characteristics of the grapes from the region of Champagne and when he was 60 years old, succeeded in producing what is know today as "champagne".

Pierre died in 1715. Years later, the wine company that brought the Hautvilliers monastery vineyards gave the name "Dom Perignon" to its finest vintage.

Bringing in the New Year many will, without realizing it, celebrate the memory of the Benedictine monk.

"Dom" (from the Latin word "dominus" which means "lord") was a title sometimes give to monks and other religious leaders.

Happy 2009!