Madame Clicquot-Ponsardin built an empire around the beverage of choice for any soirée or celebration, a symbol of glamour, luxury, and extravagance. In an era of restrictions, and widowed at just 27, her innovative vision and resilience revolutionised the French sparkling wine industry, becoming an example of the vital role of women not only in business but in society as a whole.
Behind one of the world’s most recognised champagne brands — Veuve Clicquot — lies the inspiring story of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin, a visionary woman who became one of the first businesswomen of the modern world. Following the premature death of her husband, the young widow inherited the Clicquot family wine distribution business, founded by her father-in-law in 1772. Her aim was to become a wine producer, focusing particularly on the golden, effervescent drink that had gained popularity during the reign of Louis XV.
It is crucial to highlight that, during this period, women were not allowed to work, vote, or attend university. Taking on the management of a winery was, therefore, unthinkable in the 18th century. However, defying all the conventions of her time, Madame Clicquot took charge of the business, with financial support from her father-in-law, provided she learned more about the craft under the guidance of renowned winemaker Alexandre Fourneaux.
Despite this investment in her training, the winery faced challenging times, even coming close to bankruptcy. The Napoleonic Wars significantly impacted the business, but it was during this period that Madame Clicquot made her masterstroke. Recognising that the sweet wines of hampagne were highly appreciated in Russia, she decided to invest in this market, confident of its potential success. In 1810, she created her first vintage champagne, made exclusively from the harvest of a single year, showcasing her innovative prowess. This type of champagne was also the first vintage ever recorded in the region. The following year proved equally significant for the winery, as a comet passed over the region, seen as a good omen for the exceptional quality of the harvest, which inspired the creation of the Le Comet Vintage wine.
Notwithstanding the emphasis on the Russian market, naval blockades again hindered her plans by preventing the wines from reaching their final destination. Refusing to give up, Madame Clicquot sent a shipment to Amsterdam, where it remained until the end of the war. Finally, in 1814, the bottles of the refined golden liquid were triumphantly received in St. Petersburg, achieving tremendous success. Pushkin, Chekhov, and Gogol were among the Russian literary figures who praised the drink, and it is even believed that Tsar Alexander I declared it the only champagne he would drink. From this moment, Madame Clicquot’s name became renowned and celebrated among the Russian court and high society.
As her popularity grew, the production methods for Clicquot champagne did not keep pace with the increasing demand. The production process was time-consuming and expensive due to the secondary fermentation that distinguished champagne from conventional wines. Yet again, Madame Clicquot demonstrated her ingenuity. In 1816, she invented the first table de remuage, a table allowing bottles to be positioned at a 45-degree angle. This method enabled daily quarter-turn rotations over six to eight weeks, gradually collecting the sediments and yeast in the neck of the bottle. This process revolutionised champagne production. A special rack, still recognised by champagne enthusiasts today, was also created and remains in use. However, due to the loyalty of her employees, competitors only discovered the secret behind the clarity of Clicquot champagne decades later.
The business continued to thrive, fuelled by the entrepreneurial spirit of the young innovator. Challenging traditional winemaking methods, she pioneered blending Bouzy red wines with her champagne, creating the first champagne rosé d’assemblage. Even after her death in 1866, the maison maintained its commitment to innovation. It registered the first patent for its yellow label, a colour uncommon at the time but now emblematic of the brand. More recently, its crayères, ancient chalk quarries providing ideal conditions for champagne ageing, were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin’s entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit is still celebrated by the brand today. To mark its 200th anniversary, the vintage cuvée La Grande Dame was launched, along with the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award, honouring her innovative vision. Now, with 250 years of history and savoir-faire, the maison remains one of the most prestigious in the Champagne region, a legacy owed to the young visionary who transformed a struggling business into an empire of excellence.
