Perignon, Pierre

Perignon, Pierre a French Benedictine, was born about 1640 at Sainte-Menehould. He belonged to the congregation of Sainte-Vannes. In his capacity of procurator of the abbey of Hautvilliers, he was charged with the care of the vineyards. Gifted with an extreme delicacy of taste, he could distinguish, without ever mistaking, between the grapes coming from the different growths of Champagne. He rendered a great service to this province by showing how. to combine the different kinds to give to its wine that delicacy and strength which have since gained it such a great reputation. But, far. from keeping for himself or for his convent the secret of its manufacture, he was eager to divulge it in his Memoires sur la maniere de choisir les plantes de viqgne convenables au sol, sur la faupon de les provigner, de les tailler, de melansger les raisins, d'en fiire la cueillette et de gouverner les vins. The author was a learned man and of austere manners. He died Sept. 14, 1715, at Hautvilliers, near Epernay. See Histoire de la Congreg. de Sainte Vatnnes.