Veuve Clicquot: One of the World’s Greatest Champagne Houses

At big parties, receptions or savory meals, champagne is always an unmissable element. It brings flavor and finesse. Champagne is a prestigious wine and those of Veuve Clicquot are even more so. It is a luxury French brand known all over the world. Here’s what you need to know about Veuve Clicquot champagnes.

The History of Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot Champagne is now known as one of the best. It was Philippe Clicquot-Muiron who founded the Champagne House in 1772 and his son François Clicquot married Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin. The latter, who became Madame Clicquot, found herself a widow at the age of 27 and took the lead of the house in 1805. There she was, the famous Widow! At the time, the house produced 100,000 bottles annually.

When Madame Clicquot passed away on July 29, 1866, the house sold 750,000 bottles worldwide. This businesswoman had the intelligence to acquire vines among the best crus in Bouzy, Verzy and Verzenay in the Montagne de Reims. She managed to constitute the exceptional 286 hectares heritage of the house. She also designed the famous yellow label which, all over the world, makes it possible to recognize a bottle of Clicquot at a glance.

Based in Reims, the Veuve Clicquot house offers a fairly tight range of cuvées, all made around a majority of Pinot Noir. The spearhead of this range is the Carte Jaune, a fresh and very slightly vinous non-vintage Brut. Then there is a range of vintage champagne, with a white and a rosé.

The Veuve Coquelicot Champagne Range

The cuvées of Veuve Clicquot champagne are produced respecting the house style. That style is based on Pinot Noir, as well as a certain idea of complexity and a touch of vinosity. The champagne maker offers a tight range, with 2 non-vintage brut (a white and a rosé), two vintage brut (a white and a rosé), and finally two prestige cuvées (again in white and rosé). Demi-sec has disappeared from the range to keep the selection tight and qualitative.

At the top of the range of Veuve Clicquot champagne sits the Grande Dame, a prestigious cuvée that pays homage to the one who developed and gave the real impetus to the house. It is a cuvée of high quality, but which still struggles a little to be recognized at its fair value. Its rosé version is much more appreciated for its precision, finesse and complexity.