Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 14 September 1715
- Dom Pérignon was a member of the Order of the Benedictines. It is interesting to note that he was a contemporary of Louis XIV, who is also known as the "Sun King".
The French Catholic monk Dom Pérignon died on this day in 1715.
The famous brand of champagne was named after him. Dom Perignon was born as Pierre Pérignon, and the word Dom was something akin to an honorary title of the Benedictine monks (derived from the Latin word dominus).
Dom Pérignon was born in Sainte-Menehould in the area of the historical region of Champagne. Sainte-Menehould is located 50 kilometers east of Reims, where coronations of French kings were held. It is interesting to note that he was a contemporary of Louis XIV, nicknamed the “Sun King”. In fact, Dom Pérignon was only few months younger than Louis XIV, and died exactly 13 days after the death of Louis XIV, on this day in 1715.
Dom Perignon became a member of the Order of the Benedictines when he was about 17 years old. He spent most of his life in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter in Hautvillers, Champagne (ten kilometers south of Reims).
He controlled their wine production. It is known that the Benedictines’ motto is: “Ora et labora” – “Pray and work”). Dom Pérignon was known as a wine expert, and probably the most famous champagne brand was named after him.
