Under the creative leadership of cellar master Richard Geoffroy, Dom Pérignon is reinvented with every vintage. On 29 September 1694, Dom Pierre Pérignon wrote that his mission was to create “the best wine in the world.” He dedicated himself to improving viticulture techniques, perfecting the art blending grapes from different crus, and introduced the gentle and fractional pressing to obtain white wine from black grapes.Ever since, the House of Dom Pérignon has perpetuated this visionary approach instilled by its founder, one that remains a hallmark of true luxury: the constant reinvention of the exceptional. These bottles were recorked in 1981, which means that they have more of the autolytic character brought by recorking than other bottles from that year.Īt the end of the 17th Century, Dom Pierre Pérignon stated his ambition to create ‘the best wine in the world’. A special label was designed for the wedding magnums to tell the tale of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana on 29 July 1981. Tastingbook have tasted the 1961 Dom Pérignon on several occasions, but these specific magnum bottles always carry a special significance. According to Moët & Chandon, this specific cuvée was never released for public sale. A further twelve magnums of the same vintage were ordered, six for Palace staff and six for charity. Ninety-nine magnum bottles of the 1961 vintage of Dom Pérignon, which is considered by many experts to be one of the best champagnes ever produced, were specially brought from the Moët & Chandon champagne cellars for the wedding. All the dishes were served on golden plates and accompanied by the finest of champagnes: Dom Pérignon 1961. The dinner consisted of brill in lobster sauce, supreme de volaille Princesse de Galles (chicken breast stuffed with lamb mousse) and strawberries with cream from Cornwall. Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers surrounding the Palace witnessed their kiss.Īfter the famous kiss and the official wedding photography session by Lord Snowdon, the Queen invited friends and family for a wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace. The 20-year-old newly minted Diana, Princess of Wales stepped out with her husband, Prince Charles.
One of the climaxes of the long day was the opening of the doors to the patiently waiting balcony at Buckingham Palace, at exactly 1:15 p.m. The ceremony with its three thousand guests was festive and moving. The young bride stumbled over the order of the names of her husband-to-be, but she was not alone: the groom also promised to share with her “thy worldly goods” instead of his own. Tears welled into many eyes outside of London, too, as an estimated 750 million viewers around the world followed the fairy-tale wedding on TV.Įxcitement and nerves were palpable during the wedding ceremony. Paul’s they caused a wave of euphoria, a massive sea of sound, whose hundreds of thousands of congratulations and tears still rippled through the streets of London the next day. Paul’s Cathedral – filled up the carriage, just as they had filled most of the column space in the British media for weeks.Īs the royal carriages travelled towards St. The huge sleeves, ruffles and lace of the dress, as well as the long train – whose length had been calculated and tested according to the steps of St. Her face was concealed by a veil and the first glimpse could be caught of the wedding dress designed by Emmanuel, which had until then been a closely guarded secret. Five minutes later, the future Princess of Wales and the heroine of the day, Lady Diana Spencer, stepped into a carriage at the Queen Mother’s house, accompanied by her father. The first carriage bore the groom, HRH Prince Charles, accompanied by his brother, Prince Andrew. exactly, royal carriages started out from the Palace, marking the beginning of a precisely orchestrated royal performance. As the time neared ten o’clock, the crowds were about to be rewarded for their patience.Īt 10:30 a.m. The street parties that had gone on through the night in London had quietened down, and the square in front of the balcony began to fill with citizens, press and tourists hungry for romance. Gilded by the morning sun, the Buckingham Palace balcony awaited its grand moment, empty. Dom Pérignon 1961 – The Choice of Charles and Diana