Mamy people will recognize the words “Dom Perignon” as coming from a champagne bottle, but few will think of the man behind the famous (and expensive) vintage champagne that bears his name today.
There are many myths which surround Dom Perignon, and his journey towards the creation of a higher quality beverage than had ever been tasted before. But what did he actually do, and what is mere legend?
Dom Perignon was born in the Champagne region of France in 1638, surprisingly late for those who picture him as a medieval monk tinkering with bottles. Nor did he invent champagne himself, but was rather an important early developer of champagne as a specific beverage.
He was a lifelong monk however, that much of the story is true. After a religious schooling he entered the monastery at Verdun at the tender age of 17 and only moved again once in his life. In 1668, aged 30, he transferred to the Abbaye Saint-Pierre d’Hautvillers, where he would serve at the cellarer for the rest of his days.
The main problem with champagne at the time was not that it tasted bad. It was more that the bottles could explode. Wine left to ferment in the bottle could often stall in the process, leaving unfermented sugars in the bottle.
Should the yeast then reactivate, say due to warmer weather, the pressure in the bottle could build up unexpectedly, causing it to explode. With the tightly packed and stored bottles in the cellars, this could cause a chain reaction, filling the room with flying shards of glass and wine.
Dom Perignon spent the majority of his life trying to avoid this refermentation, and in the process created what we know of as champagne. His blends of grapes, his specifics on horticulture and treatment of vines, established a standard which is followed to this day.
And what about his famous quote, supposedly said on first trying his sparkling champagne: “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” Sadly, this seems to have been a much later invention, first appearing on advertising in the 19th century.
But, for all the fictions that grew up around this Benedictine monk, his contribution to the development of champagne is unquestionable. He may not have invented the idea, but in his pursuit of perfection (and his desire to avoid explosions) he crafted what we know as champagne today.
Top Image: Dom Perignon is often credited with inventing champagne. Source: Unknown Author / Public Domain.
By Joe Green
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