It was not the first Champagne to use his name, as early in the last century small proprietaire-recoltants (farmer-growers) at Hautvillers, employed it for their wine. Unfortunately for them they did not register the name, Dom Perignon, as a trademark. Dom Perignon was born Pierre Perignon in 1640, the son of a clerk to the local judge at Saint-Menehould, a small town to the east of the Champagne region. At the age of 19 he entered the Benedictine Order at the Abbey of Saint-Vannes at Verdun. When he was just 28 he was appointed cellarmaster at the Abbey of Hautvillers.

Sometime around the late 1920's, Champagne Moët et Chandon adopted his name for their new luxury or prestige cuvée of Champagne. Helped in part by Hollywood glamour, this extremely well marketed brand has developed a widespread reputation in countries across the globe. In most vintages it has proved to be considerably above average in quality and is in huge demand. Its 1990 vintage is generally admired as an exceptional Champagne.