Veuve Clicquot

For over 250 years, Veuve Clicquot has remained one of the world's top Chardonnay producers, with its incredible history shaped by Madame Clicquot. The Champagne house has differentiated itself from competitors with its Pinot Noir-dominant wines and the indelible Brut Yellow Label, containing the iconic Pantone 137C dark-yellow label. Now owned by LVMH, Veuve Clicquot Champagne remains a wine steeped in centuries of history, consistently providing the perfect backdrop to any exquisite celebration. 

Veuve Clicquot Champagne History

Veuve Clicquot was established in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot, a fabric merchant in Reims, looking to gain secondary income from a side business. Though the Champagne house was successful, Philippe left daily operations to his son and daughter-in-law, Francois and Barbe Nicole Clicquot. The pair initially failed to expand the wine business and was under threat by Philippe, which only worsened when Francois died of typhoid fever in 1805. Madame Clicquot miraculously convinced her father-in-law to keep the house open, studying for four years under Alexandre Forneaux and finding innovative ways to improve Veuve Clicquot Champagne and increase revenue.

The young widow quickly proved to be a savvy businesswoman and innovative winemaker, creating the first known vintage champagne in 1810, developing a riddling table in 1816, and crafting the first known Rosé in 1818. Furthermore, Madame Clicquot took full advantage of the ongoing Napoleonic Wars, smuggling champagne to the highly profitable Russian market as soon as the war ended. Understanding that the Russian Tsar Alexander I was a major champagne enthusiast, Madame Clicquot illegally shipped bottles to the leader, who proclaimed he would only drink Veuve Clicquot and no other champagne. Almost instantly, the Champagne house catapulted into global stardom and was established as a premier luxury brand. 

As demand increased, Madame Clicquot developed new operations to mass-produce her wines, beating competitors like Cristal Champagne throughout the 19th century. By the mid-20th century, Veuve Clicquot Champagne was long established as one of the region's best cuvees, eventually turning ownership over to LVMH in 1986. Today. the house lives up to its motto: "Only one quality, the finest." 

Veuve Clicquot Reims Terroir

Veuve Clicquot owns 390 hectares of land on gentle sloping hills in the Champagne region. Over 95% of its vines are classified as Grand and Premier Crus, comprising 47% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir, and 17% Pinot Meunier. The vines benefit from shallow soils and high sun exposure and are tended to by more than 1,000 workers each harvest. Only eco-friendly farming techniques are used, including natural pest control, sustainable viticulture, and no herbicides. Each plot is analyzed twice a week for 4-5 weeks to assess the maturation process, and fruit from each vine is tasted to determine the order of the harvest. 

For each harvest, nearly 500 seasonal workers are lodged and fed on the estate's grounds, each hand-picking the fruit and placing it into a basket. One picker is placed on each side of the vines and sorts them into the basket or leaves them on the soil, depending on the health. Once the picking and sorting are complete, the fruit is transferred to the underground cellars, which stretch more than 24 kilometers. The chalk quarries provide ideal temperatures and humidity for aging champagne and have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for their historic nature.

When in the cellar, the fruit is tasted for 5-6 months by Didier Mariotti, the current Cellar Master, and his two assistant winemakers. After vinification, each blend is aged for a minimum of 6 months after the dosage and stored in bottle and oak depending on the label. 

Veuve Clicquot Champagne Styles

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label

Arguably, the most iconic offering from the Champagne house is Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne, marked by the distinguished dark-yellow label, a testament to Madame Clicquot's marketing prowess. The label is dominated by Pinot Noir and blended with a touch of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, resulting in an elegant and refined final cuvée. Each bottle showcases a perfect balance of strength and silkiness and is marked by rich yellow and white fruit aromas, specifically vanilla and brioche. 

Veuve Clicquot Rose Champagne

Veuve Clicquot Rose Champagne was the first of its kind, originally crafted in 1818. Each vintage blends 50-60 different crus and is based on the same formula as the iconic Yellow Label, but completed with Pinot Noir red wine. Bottles are defined by their vivacity and fruit aromas, setting the standard for Rose wines across the globe. 

Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame

The Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label may be the estate's most recognizable wine, but La Grande Dame is possibly the most celebrated offering from the estate. First created in 1972 in homage to Madame Clicquot (also known as the 'Grande Dame'), the wine is crafted using 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The result is an elixir of balanced, saline, and finely crafted character. 

Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec

Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec Champagne contains the estate's most balanced split between Champagne varietals; each bottle comprises 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, and 20% Chardonnay. The wine was crafted as a tribute to the taste of 19th-century drinkers, who favored extreme levels of sweetness in each champagne bottle. Ultimately, the wine offers immense roundness and aromatic richness, providing more distinct fruit flavors compared to the Yellow Label.