Our first thought when we hear Dom Pérignon…$$$$$.
But did you know…
Dom Pérignon statue at Moët & Chandon
Dom Pérignon is a brand of vintage Champagne produced by the Champagne house Moët & Chandon, and serves as that house’s prestige champagne. It is named after Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk who was an important quality pioneer for Champagne wine but who (contrary to popular myths) did not discover the champagne method for making sparkling wines. Pérignon revolutionized and improved the methods for making Champagne with his unrivaled innovations for grape growing and winemaking and is thus regarded as the father of Champagne.
Although sparkling Champagne was only about 10% of the region’s output in the 18th century, it was enjoyed increasingly as the wine of English and French royalty and the lubricant of preference at aristocratic gatherings. Its popularity continued to grow until, in the 1800′s, the sparkling wine industry was well established.
Dom Perignon Vintage 1980
Since World War II champagne sales have climbed upwards, nearly quadrupling between 1945 and 1966. Champagne has trickled down the social scale and is no longer considered just a luxury. Today, more champagne is being consumed, by more people, than at any previous time in history. The new millennium looks good for champagne.
Dom Pérignon makes vintage wines exclusively (both blanc and rosé) and remains fully committed to producing Champagne only in the best years. Three vintage years in a row are rare and has only happened twice (1969, 1970, & 1971; 1998, 1999, & 2000).
So every time you toast with a Dom Pérignon, you can honestly say, it’s a fine vintage.
