In 1772, Philippe Clicquot founded a wine-making business under the name of Clicquot. His son Francois later took over the family business and in 1798 he married Barbe Nicole Ponsardin. When Francois died in 1805, the young 27-year-old widow decided to continue her husband’s legacy. A woman of vision, she became the driving force behind the prestige and success of the brand, which in 1810 was renamed Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.
In 1816 Madame Clicquot invented the riddling table with the aim of obtaining clarified champagnes of unrivalled quality. She became known by her contemporaries as the ""Grand Dame of Champagne"", in recognition of her audacity and determination.
Today, the Veuve Clicquot brand continues to embody the values held by Madame Clicquot: modernity and audacity blended together with an emphasis on quality and expertise that are second to none.
