Do you just want to impress? By Alex Burrell. Waiter, bring me a bottle of Moat Ice Imperial with a sparkler. Well, you know we're not belittling anyone's work, and we're not saying Moat is a bad champagne either. We simply often get carried away by appearances or prices when selecting a champagne, which is almost always for a celebration. Before anything else, let's talk a little about those who set the precedence in the world of champagne making. Whenever we talk about this magical drink, we'll come across three key names: Mot and Shandon, Vuve-Cliquat, and Dom Perignon. Here's a look at each of their contributions to this world. View Cliquat. In 1772, Philippe Cliqueot founded a company, originally producing wines and textiles. After his death in 1805, his daughter-in-law, Barbnicole Ponsardin, took the reins, saving the company from ruin during the Napoleonic Wars by exporting to Russia. An interesting part of its history is marked by the presence of a woman in a male-dominated world, but her vision and innovation quickly established the brand as a market favorite. They were the first to produce a vintage wine in 1810 and are credited with inventing the Riddling Rack in 1818, which allows bottles to be tilted so that the yeast sediment concentrates in the neck of the bottle. The iconic yellow label began to be used commercially in 1877 to distinguish the highest quality bottles. Moat and Shandon. Since its founding in 1743, the company has marketed champagne throughout Europe, primarily targeting the aristocracy. In the 19th century, it expanded internationally. They made a significant contribution to vintage winemaking, creating the first vintage champagne in 1842, setting a precedent for quality and exclusivity within the company. Today, their champagnes are a part of prestigious celebrations such as the Oscars and sporting events around the world. Dom Perignon. A champagne created by Mot and Chandon in 1921, it is named after the Benedictine monk Pierre Perignon. This champagne requires special classification because, thanks to its connection to the famous monk, it has a history all its own. Dom Pierre Perignon dedicated his efforts to innovation in winemaking. Cold harvesting, careful grape selection, more robust bottles, and stronger corks. Dom Perignan's champagne adheres to the standards established by the monk, and one of the most interesting facts about this wine is that it is only produced if the harvest of a specific year, vintage, meets the standards for creating an exceptional wine. Otherwise, it is not produced that year. Of course, there are many more brands that have set precedence in champagne making, and we'll talk about more of them later. But today we're focusing on those who laid the foundations for the production of this wonderful elixir called champagne. Cheers!