Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is a French Champagne house based in Reims, specializing in premium products. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, Veuve Clicquot played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe. The 1811 comet vintage of Veuve  Clicquot is theorized to have been the first truly "modern" Champagne due to the advancements in the méthode champenoise which Veuve Clicquot pioneered through the technique of remuage.

Madame Clicquot was born in Reims in 1777. In 1798 she married François Clicquot, son to the founder of the Maison Clicquot. François shared his passion and knowledge for champagne creation and distribution with his young wife. It was because she had spent this time at his side that Madame Clicquot was able to take the reins of the family  house after  the untimely death of François in 1805. Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin was the actual “Veuve Clicquot”, widowed at the age of 27, just seven years after marrying the company’s heir, François.
Madame Clicquot was very fond of red-wine grape parcels from the Bouzy region of Champagne, and she elaborated her own red wine from the area. Inspiration struck, and in 1818 she decided to blend this with her still white wines. The result was a stronger rosé champagne, with definite character. Her talent in re-creation gave us the first known blended rosé champagne: Veuve Clicquot Rosé.

The modern day Maison of Veuve Clicquot possesses one of the finest champagne vineyards, both in terms of its size and the quality of its vines. Its 390 hectares are divided between 12 of the 17 Grands Crus, and between 20 of the 44 Premiers Crus that constitute the entire Champagne region.

The epitome of “accessible luxury,” Veuve Clicquot is sold in fine wine catalogs and liquor stores, and mentioned everywhere from James Bond novels, to “Downton Abbey,” to even the “Real Housewives” franchises. This exceptional heritage was built up over the centuries, founded upon the parcels first established by the founder, and added to by subsequent vineyard directors With its unmistakable yellow label, it is certainly one of the most well-known Champagnes on the market today. While sommeliers may scoff at the big-brand house, Champagne probably wouldn’t be what it is today without Veuve Clicquot. Its innovations in production, and persistence in garnering recognition for the region, give Veuve Clicquot great historical significance. The wine holds a royal warrant of appointment in the United Kingdom, which means that it is officially approved to be served to the British Royal Family.