If ever a wine had a claim to heritage, then it is Dom Pérignon Champagne, the cocktail of the connoisseur; a historic and mythical drink with its roots proudly displayed upon its famous label. But, if Dom Pérignon ever had a spiritual domicile (a pied à terre, perhaps), then it would almost certainly be among the stars and celebrities, now and from a bygone era, especially at the Festival de Cannes – a moviegoer’s byword for glamour and sophistication since its inception in 1939.

Indeed, it’s difficult to conjure up an image of Cannes without the picture of a red carpet, stark as blood against a backdrop of white sand and an azure blue Mediterranean. And, at a gathering close by, surrounded by the massed banks of photographers, a collection of the planet’s most powerful men; hair slicked back, dominant in dinner jackets, their perfectly manicured hands jutting from starched white, shot cuffs – holding a glass of Dom Pérignon.

The ‘A’ list actors, directors, financiers and producers flock to be among the most glamorous women in the world, resplendent in haute couture; their ensembles completed by the fine crystal flute they hold so delicately by its stem – not just a pose but, as those ‘in the know’ know, the only way of ensuring the Dom Pérignon is not warmed by one’s hand.

The joining of movie people and Dom Pérignon is no quirk of fate, but an almost inevitable relationship made, perhaps, in the glittering firmament. As the high priestess of chic, Marlene Dietrich once explained: "As symbols go, champagne is extraordinarily powerful. It makes you feel like it’s a Sunday and better days are just around the corner. If you manage to get a well-chilled Dom Pérignon in a lovely glass on the terrace of a Paris restaurant with a view of the trees on a sunny day in mid-autumn, you will feel like the most luxurious person in the world, even if you’re accustomed to drinking champagne."

Named after perhaps the most influential viticulturist of them all, the seve

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