Nothing beats champagne for very special occasions!

Celebrations call for special treats – for me it is Veuve Clicquot champagne. Over the years, I have celebrated special occasions with this beautiful champagne like Christmas, birthdays, Easter, passed exams, sunny days, rainy days etc. (You can make any day a special occasion!)

The Clicquot company originally only grew grapes as a side business having been involved in banking and wool trading. Founded by Philippe Clique who produced traditional wines, it was his son, François, who saw the potential in champagne production.

In 1798, François married Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, a marriage that would later alter the course of both the business and the history of champagne.

At the age of 27, Barbe-Nicole became the ‘Veuve’ (French for widow) Clicquot, and while many expected her to sell the business, she defied social norms and resolved to continue her husband's vision.

Madame Clicquot was not only a shrewd businesswoman but also an innovator who played a critical role in refining the production of champagne.

Perhaps her most significant contribution was the invention of the riddling table, a technique that improved the clarity of champagne and allowed for its mass production.

At the time, champagne was cloudy due to sediment left in the bottle from the fermentation process. To solve this, Madame Clicquot invented the method of remuage (riddling), in which bottles were stored at an angle and rotated regularly to allow sediment to collect at the neck, making it easier to remove.

This process resulted in the brilliant clarity that is now a hallmark of fine champagne. Another important milestone came in 1811, when Veuve Clicquot created the first vintage champagne.

While most champagne is a blend of grapes from different years, a vintage champagne is made entirely from the harvest of a single year.

Also, most champagne is either a blend of different grapes or made from chardonnay while Veuve Clicquot is pinot noir dominant.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Veuve Clicquot managed to smuggle its bottles past blockades, supplying Russian nobility who became ardent fans of the champagne. This tactic helped establish the brand as a global luxury symbol.

The yellow label hasn’t really changed over the last 180 years making the bottles easy recognisable on shelves.

When visiting London, make sure to enjoy a wonderful afternoon tea at Cakes & Bubbles in Regent Street who serve Veuve Clicquot as their house champagne.

Veuve Clicquot is also one of the early producers of rose champagne. Ruinart had previously created a rosé champagne by colouring it with elderberry juice, but Veuve Clicquot was the pioneer in making rosé champagne by blending still red wine with sparkling wine.

First introduced in 1818, Veuve Clicquot Rosé is now crafted by adding pinot noir to its iconic Yellow Label blend. It seems that the late Queen Elizabeth II deemed Veuve Clicquot fit for royals as the champagne holds the royal warrant which means that it is officially approved to be served to the royal family.

If it’s good enough for them, it is definitely good enough for me. Now, what can we celebrate next?