Veuve Clicquot — The House That Changed Champagne Forever
Veuve Clicquot is one of the most celebrated, recognised, and beloved Champagne houses in the world — a name synonymous with quality, elegance, and the pioneering spirit of the extraordinary woman who transformed it from a small family business into a global icon. Founded in Reims in 1772 and shaped by the vision of one of history's most remarkable entrepreneurs, Veuve Clicquot has been producing Champagne of exceptional quality and consistency for over 250 years, and its iconic Yellow Label remains the benchmark non-vintage Champagne by which all others are measured.
History & Heritage
The house was founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot in Reims, in the heart of the Champagne region of northeastern France. It was, however, his daughter-in-law — Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin — who would transform the house into a legend. When her husband François Clicquot died in 1805, leaving her a widow at just 27 years old, Barbe-Nicole made the extraordinary decision to take over the business herself — at a time when women in commerce were virtually unheard of. The word veuve is French for widow, and it is in her honour that the house bears its name.
Barbe-Nicole's contribution to the Champagne industry was nothing short of revolutionary. In 1816, she and her cellar master Antoine Müller developed the remuage — or riddling — process: a technique of gradually rotating and tilting bottles to collect the sediment left by secondary fermentation in the neck of the bottle, where it could be removed cleanly to produce a clear, brilliant Champagne. This innovation transformed the production of Champagne and remains the foundation of the méthode champenoise to this day. Barbe-Nicole also pioneered the concept of shipping Champagne to international markets — sending the first shipment to Russia in 1814 — and established Veuve Clicquot as a truly global brand long before globalisation was a concept.
Today, Veuve Clicquot is part of the Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) group and produces over 50 million bottles of Champagne annually, making it one of the largest and most influential houses in the region. The house's cellar master, Didier Mariotti, continues the tradition of excellence that Barbe-Nicole established, blending wines from across the Champagne region to produce expressions of remarkable consistency, complexity, and character.
The Region: Reims & Champagne, France
Veuve Clicquot is based in Reims — the ancient cathedral city at the heart of the Champagne region, approximately 150 kilometres northeast of Paris. Reims is one of the great cities of French wine culture, home to many of Champagne's most celebrated houses and to the extraordinary network of chalk cellars — the crayères — that were carved from the soft chalk beneath the city by the Romans and later expanded by the medieval church. Veuve Clicquot's cellars extend for 24 kilometres beneath the streets of Reims, maintaining a constant temperature of 10–12°C year-round — the ideal conditions for the slow, patient secondary fermentation and ageing that gives Champagne its characteristic complexity and finesse.
The Champagne region's cool, northerly climate — at the very limit of viable viticulture — produces grapes of naturally high acidity and relatively low sugar levels, the ideal foundation for sparkling wine of exceptional freshness, elegance, and longevity. The region's defining characteristic is its deep layer of soft, porous chalk — the remnant of an ancient seabed — that drains freely, reflects heat back onto the vine canopy, and retains moisture during dry periods. This chalk is the foundation of Champagne's distinctive mineral character and the reason why the region's wines age so magnificently.
Veuve Clicquot sources grapes from across the Champagne region's most prestigious crus, with a particular emphasis on Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims — the variety that provides the backbone, structure, and red fruit character that defines the house style. Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs contributes finesse, elegance, and mineral precision, while Pinot Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne adds roundness, approachability, and a distinctive fruity generosity.
The Art of Blending & Reserve Wines
The consistency of Veuve Clicquot's non-vintage expressions — most notably the Yellow Label Brut — is achieved through the masterful use of reserve wines: wines from previous vintages that are blended with the current year's harvest to maintain the house style across every release. The Yellow Label typically incorporates 25–35% reserve wines (sometimes up to 40%), drawn from a library of wines spanning multiple vintages, which gives the blend its characteristic complexity, depth, and consistency regardless of the character of any individual harvest.
Awards & Recognition
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97 Points — The Tasting Panel 2025 (La Grande Dame)
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97 Points — Decanter 2025 (La Grande Dame)
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95 Points — Wine Spectator 2025 (La Grande Dame)
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95 Points — The World of Fine Wine 2025 (La Grande Dame)
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17/20 — Jancis Robinson 2025 (La Grande Dame)
- One of the world's most recognised and distributed Champagne brands, present in over 150 countries
- Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin — inventor of the riddling process (1816) and one of history's most celebrated female entrepreneurs
- Over 250 years of continuous Champagne production from the same Reims cellars
Our Range
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV — Available in 750mL and Magnum (1.5L) formats. The iconic expression and the benchmark non-vintage Champagne by which all others are measured. A masterful blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier incorporating 25–35% reserve wines. Golden yellow hue with delicate, persistent bubbles. Aromas of white and yellow fruits, vanilla, and toasty brioche. Exquisite mouthfeel with remarkable balance and finesse on the palate. The Magnum format is particularly prized for its ability to age gracefully, with the larger volume slowing the ageing process and developing additional complexity over time. Pairs beautifully with oysters, smoked salmon, caviar, soft cheeses, and seafood canapés. Serve at 8–10°C.
Veuve Clicquot Rosé NV 750mL — A Champagne of striking character and genuine depth. Coppery-orange in colour with expressive aromas of strawberry and very ripe wild strawberries. Full-bodied, structured, and vinous on the palate — a Rosé of real presence and length that stays fresh and lively through to the finish. One of the most distinctive and characterful Rosé Champagnes produced by any house.
Veuve Clicquot Rich NV 750mL — A unique and innovative expression crafted in collaboration with mixologists, designed to be served over ice with fresh ingredients. A blend of Pinot Noir (45%), Meunier (40%), and Chardonnay (15%) with a generous dosage that enhances the blend's aromas. Pineapple, grapefruit zest, cucumber, celery, and tea are among the ingredients recommended to complement the wine's distinctive notes — a Champagne that invites creativity and experimentation.
Veuve Clicquot Vintage Brut — Produced only in the finest years, the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Brut is a Champagne of exceptional character and ageing potential. Extended lees ageing and partial oak cask maturation develop extraordinary complexity — a fresh, delicate, and saline nose evolving to complex aromas of figs, dried fruits, honey, truffle, and mocha, with soft spices of vanilla and nutmeg. Concentrated flavours of apricot, fig, and dried fruits on the palate, with the dominance of Pinot Noir delivering structure and character and Chardonnay adding finesse and elegance. An ageing potential of more than 15 years. Presented in a gift box crafted from 50% hemp and 50% recycled paper.
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame — Jacquemus Limited Edition — The pinnacle of the Veuve Clicquot range and one of the most extraordinary Champagnes produced by any house. Named in honour of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin herself — the Grande Dame of Champagne — this prestige cuvée is produced only in exceptional vintages from the house's finest vineyard parcels. A blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. This limited edition is presented in a gift box sheathed in toile du Marais with the bottle wrapped in white linen, designed by Simon Porte Jacquemus. Bright, luminous gold with a pristine, energetic mousse. Deep and precise on the nose with intense aromas of citrus (lemon, lime, yuzu), white fruit, and spring floral notes. Ideal balance on the palate with sensations of apple and pear, tangerine and lime, nectarine, pink ginger, strawberry, toffee-nut bread, and spice. Silky, generous, and gorgeous with a resounding, minerally finish. 97 Points, The Tasting Panel; 97 Points, Decanter; 95 Points, Wine Spectator; 95 Points, The World of Fine Wine; 17/20, Jancis Robinson.
How to Enjoy Veuve Clicquot
All Veuve Clicquot Champagnes are best served well chilled at 8–10°C in a tulip-shaped flute or a wide-mouthed white wine glass that allows the full aromatic complexity to express itself. The Yellow Label is the perfect aperitif and an outstanding partner for oysters, smoked salmon, and seafood. The Rosé pairs beautifully with strawberry desserts, salmon, and soft cheeses. The Rich is best served over ice in a large wine glass with fresh fruit and herbs. The Vintage Brut rewards patience — open it now or cellar it for a decade or more. La Grande Dame is a wine to be savoured slowly and without distraction — a Champagne of such rarity and complexity that it demands nothing less than full attention and the finest company.
Explore our full Veuve Clicquot range below and discover why the house that Barbe-Nicole built has been captivating Champagne lovers for over 250 years.
