Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot
The House of Veuve Clicquot has shone brightly since 1772, exuding the optimism and audacity that Madame Clicquot brought to the business. Her motto, “only one quality, the finest,” continues to inspire the new commitment and inventive spirit of the House.
Creation date: 1772
Chief Executive Officer: Jean-Marc Gallot
Head office: 12, rue du Temple, 51100 Reims - France
Website: www.veuveclicquot.com
Identity
The champagne house was founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot, a fabric merchant in Reims. When his son, François Clicquot, died suddenly in 1805, François’s 27-year-old widow, Barbe Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, took over the company – no small feat for this bold and audacious 19th-century woman. At a time when women had few rights, this young woman was determined “to depend on no one”. Driven by her uncompromising vision and her inventive spirit, Madame Clicquot created the first known vintage champagne in 1810. A few years later, in 1816, she developed the riddling table, and in 1818 produced the first known blended rosé champagne.
Veuve Clicquot is defined by its quest for excellence, love of the finest grape variety Pinot Noir, and mastery of the art of ageing.
From harvest to shipment, and at every step of the process, Veuve Clicquot is mindful of Madame Clicquot’s words: “Our wines must be flattering both to the palate and to the eye.”
She left the House with a legacy of optimism, and striving for excellence, audacity and innovation, which continues to inspire us today.
Icon
From the moment she first took over the House, Madame Clicquot was anything but a figurehead. She was a leader and an inventor, driven by her sense of creation and excellence. One of the first businesswomen of modern times, Madame Clicquot tirelessly conquered new markets and ultimately earned a name of great respect from her peers: la grande dame of Champagne.
Insights
“Veuve Clicquot has an exceptional oenological heritage, which features the largest palette of reserve wines. It can be traced back directly to the vision of an exceptional woman with a passion for Pinot Noir. I’m delighted to perpetuate more than two centuries of expertise and excellence, and to design iconic cuvées such as Brut Yellow Label and La Grande Dame.”
SOCIETAL COMMITMENT
The House was avant-garde in launching the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award in 1972 to highlight female entrepreneurs. Since then, 450 women in 27 countries have been honored. Today, Bold by Veuve Clicquot, is a concrete international program designed for more impact, with multiple actions around the world and the Bold Woman Award at the heart of it all. With the creation of the first global open database for women entrepreneurs, the Bold Open Data Base, its commitment goes even further – to increase women visibility across the globe.
“Our Maison has worked alongside women entrepreneurs for so many years, but there is still work to do. So we must speak even louder, go faster, and take action.”
Jean-Marc Gallot, CEO of Veuve Clicquot
Key figures
- 1772 The House is founded by Philippe Clicquot
- 24km length of the House’s chalk cellars, the Crayères
- 100% of the House’s vineyard has been herbicide-free since 2018
Drink responsibly.
Veuve Clicquot on social media
- The color yellow has been an integral part of our label since 1877, expressing how each new day offers the promise… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
- The color yellow has been an integral part of our label since 1877, expressing how each new day offers the promise… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
- Veuve Clicquot presents our new sun-focused campaign, directed by the brilliant jan_gleie and emphasized by a radia… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…