OUR HISTORY

Discover our history

From 1772 to today, the key dates that have forged an ongoing legacy.

1772

Foundation of the Clicquot House

1772

Foundation of the Clicquot House

Philippe Clicquot, from a family of bankers and textile merchants, already owns vinyards and decides to establish a champagne house. His ambition was to "cross the borders", and true to his word, Venice was the destination of his first shipment of champagne.

At this time

1772: Beginning of James Cook's second voyage. A three year exploration of the sourthern seas as far as the Antarctica.

{{ Madame Clicquot takes over the business}}

1805

Madame Clicquot takes over the business

1805

Madame Clicquot takes over the business

When François Clicquot, the founder's son, untimely died, his 27 year-old widow, Barbe Clicquot Ponsardin took the reins of the family house. She thus became one of the first businesswomen of modern times.

At this time

1803: Invention of the first steam locomotive.

{{ Creation of the first vintage champagne}}

1810

Creation of the first vintage champagne

1810

Creation of the first vintage champagne

Madame Clicquot proves her innovative prowess by creating the first vintage champagne ever.

At this time

1810: Ludwig van Beethoven composes "Bagatelle n°4 in A minor für Elise". Walter Scott publishes "The Lady of the Lake".

1811

Comet Vintage

1811

Comet Vintage

This year brought an exceptional harvest, whose quality was attributed to a comet that passed over Champagne, and enabled the production of a remarkable vintage.

At this time

1812: Swiss explorer Jean-Louis Burkhardt discovers the antique city of Petra.

{{ Shipping of 10,550 bottles to Russia}}

1814

Shipping of 10,550 bottles to Russia

1814

Shipping of 10,550 bottles to Russia

As she gained in boldness and daring, Madame Clicquot overcame the continental blockade that raged in Europe and managed to ship her wine to Saint-Petersburg. Her champagne received a triumphant welcome in Russia, and was praised by Pushkin, Chekhov and Gogol.

At this time

1814: The first steam-powered printing presses are used to print the London Times.

1816

Invention of the riddling table

1816

Invention of the riddling table

Madame Clicquot invents the first riddling table, which guarantees a crystal-clear wine. Then this process was adopted by the other champagne makers.

At this time

1816-1826: Nièpce invents photography.

{{ Creation of the first "Rosé d'assemblage"}}

1818

Creation of the first "Rosé d'assemblage"

1818

Creation of the first "Rosé d'assemblage"

Breaking away from the tradition of adding an elderberry-based preparation to create rosé champagne. Madame Clicquot created the first "rosé d'assemblage" by blending some of her Bouzy red wines with her champagne.

At this time

1818-1830: The triumph of Romantic painting (Turner, Constable, Delacroix, Géricault)

{{ Registration of the first Yellow Label Trademark}}

1877

Registration of the first Yellow Label Trademark

1877

Registration of the first Yellow Label Trademark

The House continues to innovate by dressing its bottles in a yellow label, an unusual colour for the time. The ‘V.Clicquot P. Werlé’ Yellow label trademark is registered on 12 February 1877. Customers demand this distinctive, original label, which was to become one of the main distinguishing features of bottles produced by the House.

At this time

1876: Thomas Edison invents the phonograph.

1909

Acquisition of the crayères

1909

Acquisition of the crayères

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin implemented new techniques and improved its wines yet again with the important oenological discoveries of the times. It extended its industrial heritage, setting up home on the outskirts of Reims in the "crayères" (ancient chalk quarries) where the visitors’ centre and production site are now located.

At this time

1903 : The first flight powered and sustained by airplane (O. Wright).

{{ Creation of La Grande Dame and Business Woman Award}}

1972

Creation of La Grande Dame and Business Woman Award

1972

Creation of La Grande Dame and Business Woman Award

To mark its 200th anniversary, the House launched its prestigious vintage cuvee La Grande Dame and created the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award, a tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of Madame Clicquot.

At this time

1969: Neil Armstrong is the first man to walk on the Moon.

{{ Louis Vuitton acquired Veuve Clicquot}}

1986

Louis Vuitton acquired Veuve Clicquot

1986

Louis Vuitton acquired Veuve Clicquot

LVMH (Moët-Hennessy - Louis Vuitton) was founded the following year.

At this time

1977: George Lucas releases the first film of the "Star Wars" serie.

2004

Launch of the Veuve Clicquot Rosé

2004

Launch of the Veuve Clicquot Rosé

Launched in Japan during the cherry blossom season, Veuve Clicquot Rosé, the House’s non-vintage Rosé, is so successful that the rest of the world has to wait until 2006 before the House can supply the remainder of the cuvee.

At this time

2004: Launch of Facebook social media.

2010

A miraculous Baltic Sea discovery

2010

A miraculous Baltic Sea discovery

In July 2010, some truly unique bottles of champagne, comprising 47 of Veuve Clicquot, were discovered in a shipwreck off Finland’ Aland Islands, at the mouth of the Baltic. Despite having spent almost two centuries at the bottom of the sea, their contents are extremely well preserved.

At this time

2010 : Inauguration of the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai establishing a new world record with its height.

2015

THE CRAYÈRES ARE LISTED A UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE

On 5 July 2015, the World Heritage Committee announced its decision to list the Vineyards, Houses and Cellars of the Champagne region as UNESCO World Heritage sites.