#WomenInWine Wednesday: The Widow Clicquot
Who: Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin a.k.a. The Widow Clicquot
Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin was the born in France in 1777, the daughter of a successful textile merchant. Her father, along with fellow successful textile merchant, Phillippe Clicquot, decided that she and Phillippe’s son, Francois, should be married to consolidate the power of their successful businesses. They were married in the summer of 1798. She was 21 years old.
In addition to being the heir to his father’s textile business, Francois was also the heir to his father’s champagne business. In 1801, Phillippe retired and left the company to Francois, who grew the company exponentially, mainly by enlisting the help of commercial travellers to spread his product.
Sadly, about seven years into their marriage, Francois suddenly fell ill with a terrible fever and died at the young age of 30. Barbe-Nicole was only 27 at the time. Devastated by his son’s death, Phillippe had every intention of selling the champagne company but Francois’s young widow stepped in and said, ‘hold up Dad, let me take over.” Phillippe obliged her and now this 27 year old, widowed, single mother (they had one daughter, Clementine) was going to be one of the first businesswomen of the time to not only run a business, but an international one at that. ::Cue “Independent Women” by DC"::
In the summer of 1810, Barbe-Nicole launched her own company, Veuve (which means “Widow” in french” Clicquot- Ponsardin. Of course she was met with adversity right from the start. Right after launching Veuve Clicquot, the Russian Czar, Alexander I, put a ban on importing French products due to wars going on at the time. Damn Napoleon! This was a big problem for the Widow because Russian consumption of her champagne was a big part of her business. However, she knew to get her product prepared for when the wars were over and she was right because the SECOND Napoleon was sent to exile, EVERYONE wanted something to toast to his defeat. She was one of the first to ship her products to Russia after the blockades were lifted and her champagne sold QUICKLY. Her champagne was the first to hit the Russian capitol and the Grand Duke Michael, (the Czar’s brother) declared that Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin would be the ONLY champagne he would drink. Well of course a statement like that would make you an overnight sensation and that’s exactly what happened.
From then on, it was only up from there. The Widow really positioned her champagne as a drink for high society and a drink for special occasions. She was not only a leader on the business side of things, but also a leader and innovator on the wine making side too. She is responsible for the riddling technique, which is the reason why we no longer have murky, cloudy champagne. She is also responsible for the discovery of rosé champagne. Wow what a legacy!
This woman did so much for the champagne and wine industry in a time when women weren’t really allowed to hold power like that. To that I say “Cheers to you, Barbe-Nicole! Cheers to you!”
