Dom Pérignon is a brand of vintage Champagne produced by the Champagne house Moët & Chandon. The story of champagne begins with Dom Pérignon. Dom Pérignon (1638–1715) was a monk and cellar master at the Benedictine abbey in Hautvillers. The Abbey is located overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of the Marne Valley, an area which is famed for growing champagne grapes which have a wonderful terroir. Dom Pérignon spent 47 years of his life in the Abbey, where he worked on improving some of the oldest aspects of champagne-making. He was the first to blend grapes in such a way as to improve the quality of wines and deal with a number of their imperfections. In 1718, Canon Godinot published a set of wine making rules that were said to be established by Dom Pérignon. Among these rules was the detail that fine wine should only be made from Pinot Noir. Pérignon was not fond of white grapes because of their tendency to enter refermentation. He worked hard to prevent a secondary fermentation which was seen as a fault and most likely to break the wine bottles.

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Dom Pérignon also made changes to the shape of champagne bottles, using thicker glass to prevent costly and dangerous explosions caused by a build-up of gases within the bottles during transportation. The use of bottles made from verre anglais ('English glass') which were much stronger and able to withstand the pressure better. The classic shape and style of today’s champagne bottles are thanks to Dom Pérignon. Dom Pérignon did not introduce blending to Champagne wines but rather the innovation of blending the grapes prior to sending them to press. Pérignon did not allow grapes to be treaded and favored the use of multiple presses to help minimize macerations of the juice and the skins. His influence was profound as his achievements include inventing the more gentle 'coquard' press which allowed him to make clear, still white wine from black grapes. Another contribution to champagne made by Dom Pérignon was the creation of the first champagne cork. Previously, champagne bottles had been closed with wood, which did not always fit perfectly. Dom Pérignon’s use of cork as a closure ensured a better fit, so that the tiny bubbles in the champagne would be preserved. Corks were fastened to bottles with hemp string soaked in oil in order to keep the wines fresh and sparkling. Other rules was Pérignon's guidance to aggressively prune vines so that they grow no higher than three feet and produce a smaller crop. Harvest should be done in cool, damp conditions (such as early morning) with every precaution being taken to ensure that the grapes don't bruise or break. Rotten and overly large grapes were to be thrown out. He was also an advocate of 'organic' winemaking where he sought only to use the natural processes without the addition of any foreign substances. Dom Pérignon dedicated his time to making some of the earliest champagne, and it is from this beginning that champagne became a beloved drink in countries all over the world.

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Dom Pérignon is a favourite champagne around the world. The fascinatingly copper-colored 2004 DOM PÉRIGNON Vintage Rosé Magnum has a beautifully delicate bouquet of red fruits, and indicates a great purity and freshness. Kept on the lees for at least nine years to smooth the tannins the 2004 reveals a weightless power on the palate. It has a deep and concentrated, highly elegant Pinot character, and is full of finesse and freshness. The 2004 is intense and vinous, yet pure, precise and extremely fine. Adorable!