Book Review: The Widow Clicquot

Ask any of my friends what my favorite drink is and they will say “bubbly.” I know the difference between champagne, cava, and prosecco. I recently carried sparkling wine in my suitcase to a hotel because it wasn’t part of our all-inclusive package. I am happy when I see it as an option on menus (especially when it’s a flight!) I love quotes about champagne. I have visited the champagne cellars of Reims, France. And, now, I finally have read the book about one of the founders of that blessed drink as we know it today–The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It.

The book details the life of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, the “Grande Dame of Champagne,” who revolutionized the champagne industry with the first vintage champagne, the invention of riddling (a technique to clarify champagne), the first blended rosé champagne (an extra thank you for that one), an established branding campaign before marketing was a thing, and building one of the largest and most well-known champagne houses in the world. All of this while being a widowed single mother and one of the first women in the world to run an international business. (Interesting fact: the Napoleonic Code specifically denied women’s rights like working without the consent of their husband or father…unless they were a widow.)

Written in a thorough, but accessible way, The Widow Clicquot (in French: “Veuve Clicquot”) details the life of this remarkable woman and her rise to international business leader with interesting information on the development of champagne (spoiler alert: Dom Perignon did not actually invent it), the French Revolution, life in France during the 19th century, and, of course, the personal story of Barbe-Nicole and her family.

The author admits to having difficulty finding information on this fascinating woman, but brings together an interesting portrait of a woman, a time period, and a product that has resounding effects today. (She also includes some information on which places are left from Barbe-Nicole’s time to visit if you find yourself in Reims, too.)

If you’re a fan of the bubbly, you’ll like this book. If you’re a fan of France, you’ll like this book. If you’re a fan of strong women, you’ll like this book. I’m a fan of all three, so I’m going to celebrate the discovery of this book with a bottle!

(If your book club is also a fan of the bubbly, use our The Widow Clicquot Book Club Guide to help have a great discussion!)

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