Veuve Clicquot

House · Reims · founded 1772

Veuve Clicquot is a Champagne house in Reims, founded in 1772 by the textile merchant Philippe Clicquot.1 It takes its name from Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, who took over the house as a widow in 1805, aged 27.1

History

Philippe Clicquot founded the business in 1772. After his son François died in 1805, François's widow Barbe-Nicole took over the house at 27.1 The house credits her with three firsts. These are the house's own claims:

The Comité Champagne dates riddling racks to the turn of the 19th century and names no inventor.4 Georg Christian Kessler joined the house in 1807 and later founded a sparkling wine cellar in Germany.5

Today

Veuve Clicquot belongs to Moët Hennessy (LVMH); the UMC lists it under MHCS, with vineyards in 26 villages.1,2 The house says its vineyard has been farmed without herbicides since 2018 and that its chalk cellars run for 24 km.1 Didier Mariotti is presented as the 11th cellar master.1

Wines

The house names Pinot Noir and long ageing as its focus and says it keeps a large range of reserve wines. Named cuvées are Brut Yellow Label and La Grande Dame.1

See also

When the Champagne houses were foundedHistoryRiddlingMethodsVintage (millésime)StylesRosé sparkling wineStylesVin de réserveGlossary

Sources

  1. LVMH (owner of Veuve Clicquot). Veuve Clicquot
  2. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). House profile: Veuve Clicquot
  3. Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). The Champagne Houses (member list)
  4. Comité Champagne (champagne.fr). Champagne and its history
  5. Kessler Sekt. Chronik

Facts checked on 2026-10-20