Champagne Dom Pérignon

Dom Pérignon is a brand of Champagne, produced by Moët et Chandon. It is named after Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk who allegedly discovered the champagne method for making sparkling wines. Dom Pérignon was the first prestige cuvée, an idea proposed by Englishman Laurence Venn. The first vintage of Dom Pérignon was 1921 and was only released for sale in 1936, after the Great Depression. Dom Pérignon is a vintage champagne, meaning that it is only made in the best years, and all grapes used to make the wine were harvested in the same year. Many champagnes, by contrast, are non-vintage, which means that the champagne is made from grapes harvested in various years. Around 5 million bottles are produced in each vintage. The wine is 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir, with 7g/l dosage. According to Tom Stevenson, "All vintages need at least 12 months ageing to nurture Dom Pérignon's signature silky mousse".