The Champagne king did not invent Champagne, but this widow is truly the 'Mother of Champagne.
She significantly improved Champagne production techniques and brought her Veuve Clicquot Champagne to the international stage.
She is Madame Ponsardin, why is everyone calling her a widow?
Because when the estate owner François Clicquot passed away in 1805, his widow, Madame Ponsardin, who was only 27 at the time, chose to shoulder the burden of the estate on her own.
It was Madame Ponsardin who invented "riddling" (Remuage), allowing the dead yeast in the bottle to slowly move towards the neck.
And "disgorgement" to remove the cloudy sediment.
This indirectly paved the way for Champagne to become mainstream because at the time, many sparkling wines still contained cloudy sediment when sold.
Madame Ponsardin was also the one who, in 1810, introduced the concept of vintage Champagne to consumers.
Madame Ponsardin also invented the blending of red and white wines to create rosé sparkling Champagne.
As a result, Veuve Clicquot later introduced the Prestige Cuvée collection "La Grande Dame" to commemorate Madame Ponsardin.
One little-known anecdote is that Veuve Clicquot Champagne gained such fame today thanks in part to Madame Ponsardin successfully getting it into the hands of the Russian Tsar during the Napoleonic Wars when Russia had banned French Champagne.
The Tsar became enamored with it, and after the war, Veuve Clicquot Champagne made its mark among the Russian elite. It was from that time onward that Veuve Clicquot Champagne gradually gained its renown.
It's worth mentioning that the fancy practice of "Sabrage," where Champagne bottles are opened with a saber, is said to have originated from the time when Madame Ponsardin bribed Russian soldiers. These soldiers found it more convenient to simply "sabre open" the Champagne bottles.
Many people today might question why Veuve Clicquot Champagne still retains the word "Veuve," which means widow in French.
It's important to understand that in the 19th century, under the Napoleonic Code, women were prohibited from engaging in civil or political activities, working, or voting. Only the status of being a widow allowed women to integrate into society. Therefore, Madame Ponsardin faced a lot of gossip and criticism during her time.
The legacy she left behind, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, is now a Champagne giant with an annual turnover of 1.3 billion USD. When you walk into a wine store, it's hard not to be drawn to the vibrant yellow label of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.
What styles of Veuve Clicquot Champagne are available for purchase?
Veuve Clicquot Champagne, which was acquired by LVMH as early as 1986, is primarily available in six series on the market.
All Veuve Clicquot Champagnes are led by Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier playing supporting roles.
One of the most prominent features of Veuve Clicquot Champagne is the mineral character imparted by the chalky soil in their vineyards, along with its delicate and elegant silky bubbles. This characteristic is consistent throughout the entire Veuve Clicquot range.
Non-vintage Veuve Clicquot Champagne requires a minimum of 30 months of yeast aging in the bottle, which is longer than many other Champagnes on the market. This extended aging period contributes to the pronounced flavors of brioche, almond, and smokiness that are characteristic of classic Champagne.
Vintage Veuve Clicquot Champagne, on the other hand, undergoes at least 5 years of yeast aging. Overall, it offers more concentrated and complex flavors compared to non-vintage varieties.
The "La Grande Dame" limited edition series is specifically created to commemorate Madame Ponsardin.
This series has always been known for its high proportion of Pinot Noir, even rarer than the vintage Veuve Clicquot. After 2008, the "La Grande Dame" series increased the percentage of Pinot Noir in the wine, and it's now almost 100% Pinot Noir, making it predominantly black grapes.
As a result, the wine has a more powerful and full-bodied palate, with a greater abundance of mature fruit flavors and a longer finish. This series has also collaborated with various artists, including a collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in 2012.
"Demi-sec" and "Rich" both undergo three years of yeast aging. After racking, 45 grams and 60 grams of sugar are respectively added, resulting in complex caramel and nutty dessert aromas.
These two series primarily focus on sweetness, paying homage to the classic characteristics when Madame Ponsardin was in charge of the winery. For those who cannot accept the prevailing trend of high acidity and low sugar in most champagnes today, they can choose according to their preference for sweetness.
It's worth mentioning that consumers are recommended to add ice cubes or even fruit when enjoying the Rich Series. Interested individuals can give it a try.
The "Extra Brut Extra Old" Cuvée, a super dry, non-vintage Champagne, was introduced in 2017. It is crafted using six different "Reserve Wine aged" wines from six different years sourced from Kusama Champagne. This series doesn't feature a specific vintage year on the label; instead, it is identified by a corresponding black number associated with the release series. Currently, it has reached its third series as of 2021.
