Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot was founded over 200 years ago.

The Champagne house was founded by Phillippe Clicquot-Muiron in 1772. At the time, the company was involved with banking and wool trading in addition to Champagne production.

Veuve Clicquot translates to “Widow Clicquot,” named for the first woman to run a Champagne house.

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 known for being strong-willed and innovative through her years at the house’s helm.

Veuve Clicquot created the first-ever vintage Champagne

After five years of bad vintages, war, and near-failure, Madame Clicquot celebrated the success of 1810 with the first single-vintage Champagne. The concept became a huge success the following year, when the iconic 1811 vintage Champagne was labeled ‘The Year of the Comet.’

Veuve Clicquot invented the riddling rack, allowing Champagne to be mass-produced.

Created by Madame Clicquot and the house’s cellar master, the riddling rack (which looked more like a riddling table at that time) allowed a more efficient process of disgorgement for the final corking of Champagne bottles. It is still used by sparkling producers around the world.