TODAY IN HISTORY: Champagne is discovered (Aug. 4, 1693)

“Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!”

That little pronouncement, like so many other legends surrounding the Benedictine monk Dom Pierre Pérignon, is a matter of speculation. According to tradition, on August 4, 1693 Dom Pérignon invented the beverage, or more appropriately, discovered it. However, champagne had been known in the region since the middle ages. What is true is that Dom Pérignon developed several blends of grapes and technologies (like the wire to hold the cork in place under pressure) that contributed to the advancement of the wine.

In 1668, Dom Pérignon began producing wines in the Champagne region. He is unquestionably the creator of Champagne as we know it because he invented the second fermentation in the bottle.

Dom Pérignon was an expert at combining wines from several vineyards to create a unique and reliable blend that is still a crucial step in the intricate process of making champagne.

In addition, Dom Pérignon invented the controlled Méthode Traditionelle, which was previously known as the Méthode Champenoise until 1994. He was also the first winemaker to produce white wine from blue grapes. In addition, he is credited with creating a number of still-in-use methods for making sparkling wine. Dom Pérignon was buried in the church of Hautvilliers, Champagne.