Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin has been pushing boundaries for the past 250 years. From inventing rosé champagne in 1775 to collaborating with innovators such as Andrée Putman and the Campana Brothers, with each passing century the legendary label goes above and beyond to challenge itself with new initiatives to energize and excite its enthusiasts. When Madame Clicquot, who had become the veuve (widow) Clicquot Ponsardin, inherited the house in 1805, she followed the motto “Only one quality, the finest” and created the first vintage and the riddling rack, two major innovations for champagne production. Centuries later, the brand behind the characteristic yellow label continues to make history, going beyond champagne to represent a complete lifestyle. In 2010, Veuve Clicquot’s home base in Reims reopened after an extensive four-year renovation by interior designer Bruno Moinard. Contemporary works by Yayoi Kusama, Karen Knorr, and Pablo Reinoso now adorn the eighteenth-century wood paneling at the Hôtel du Marc—a perfect combination of design, art, and gastronomy that acts as a center for sharing and spreading the wealth of a magnificent wine. Veuve Clicquot is the drink of choice in spring at Goodwood Circuit in the United Kingdom, in summer on the polo lawns of New York, and in winter on Carnival chariots in Rio. In 2013, Veuve Clicquot partnered with Michelin-starred chef Joël Robuchon, securing its wines a spot as the guest of honor in each of his twenty-three restaurants. The following year, a collaboration with Ferrari brought the limited-edition Veuve Clicquot Maranello collection. The house has also been active in the sustainability movement, reducing emissions at the Hôtel du Marc, as well as introducing “Naturally Clicquot” eco-friendly packaging, made from the pulp of grapes harvested from the most prestigious hills of the Champagne region—a global first. Between tradition and jet set, excellence and attitude, over the years the house has perfected the way of life “à la Clicquot,” a life synonymous with fine, authentic products and classic culture.

The story of the visionary young widow who built a champagne empire, showed the world how to live with style, and emerged a legend Veuve Clicquot champagne epitomizes glamour, style, and luxury. But who was this young widow--the Veuve Clicquot--whose champagne sparkled at the courts of France, Britain, and Russia, and how did she rise to celebrity and fortune? In "The Widow Clicquot," Tilar J. Mazzeo brings to life--for the first time--the fascinating woman behind the iconic yellow label: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin. A young witness to the dramatic events of the French Revolution and a new widow during the chaotic years of the Napoleonic Wars, Barbe-Nicole defied convention by assuming--after her husband's death--the reins of the fledgling wine business they had nurtured. Steering the company through dizzying political and financial reversals, she became one of the world's first great businesswomen and one of the richest women of her time. Although the Widow Clicquot is still a legend in her native France, her story has never been told in all its richness--until now. Painstakingly researched and elegantly written, "The Widow Clicquot" provides a glimpse into the life of a woman who arranged clandestine and perilous champagne deliveries to Russia one day and entertained Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte on another. She was a daring and determined entrepreneur, a bold risk taker, and an audacious and intelligent woman who took control of her own destiny when fate left her on the brink of financial ruin. Her legacy lives on today, not simply through the famous product that still bears her name, but now through Mazzeo's finely crafted book. As much a fascinating journey through the process of making this temperamental wine as a biography of a uniquely tempered woman, "The Widow Clicquot" is utterly intoxicating.

A gourmand's guide to the slim life shares the principles of French gastronomy, the art of enjoying all edibles in proportion, arguing that the secret of being thin and happy lies in the ability to appreciate and balance pleasures.

Be it a single delicate bud in a simple clear vase or an explosion of colorful blossoms, a brilliant bouquet accents an atmosphere and brightens the mood like nothing else. The beauty of flowers has inspired artists, designers, poets, and myriad other creators for centuries: the Dutch masters of the 1600s and impressionist painters from Manet to Van Gogh, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, botanical illustrator Georg Dionysius Ehret, even the inimitable Andy Warhol. Flowers: Art & Bouquets showcases a glorious profusion of floral images and interpretations across a spectrum of artistic media and time periods. Design writer Sixtine Dubly chronicles the evolution of floral design in this remarkable compendium, which also features stunning work by more than forty contemporary floral artists in London, Paris, and New York, from minimalist to elaborate. This treasury of gorgeous imagery blooms in resplendent color before the reader’s eyes.

"The most complex of wines, the pop of a Champagne cork immediately symbolizes celebration and joy. Divided into four chapters--Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter--The Seasons of Veuve Clicquot highlights centuries-old traditions and expertise of champagne making while chronicling events and recipes for each season's celebrations, take you from the Champagne vineyards in Reims to the chic social events of the world: polo tournaments in New York, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the ski slopes in Australia, and a vintage car race in the English countryside. Colorful cocktails for spring, poolside appetizers in summer, the harvest picnic for early fall, and the ultimate apres-ski party in the winter, The Seasons of Veuve Clicquot has numerous full menus customized by the world's leading chefs to make any event the perfect fete. Prestigious contributors make it a must-have cookbook for socialites and foodies alike"--Jacket flap.

This inspiring, engagingly written book, with its personal approach and global scope, is the first to explore women’s increasingly influential role in the wine industry, traditionally a very male-dominated domain. Women of Wine draws on interviews with dozens of leading women winemakers, estate owners, professors, sommeliers, wine writers, and others in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere to create a fascinating mosaic of the women currently shaping the wine world that also offers a revealing insiders’ look at the wine industry. To set the stage, Ann B. Matasar chronicles the historical barriers to women’s participation in the industry, reviews post-World War II changes that created new opportunities for them, and pays tribute to a few extraordinary nineteenth-century women who left their mark on wine despite the odds against them. She then turns to her primary topic: an accessible discussion of women associated with some of the most prestigious wineries and institutions in both the Old and New Worlds that emphasizes their individual and collective contributions. Matasar also considers issues of importance to women throughout the business world including mentors, networking, marriage, family, education, self-employment versus the corporate life, and risk taking.

Champagne may be the most misunderstood category of wine in the world, as many labels of sparkling wines bear the name in error. True champagne comes only from the French province of Champagne and contains three specific grape varieties. But figuring out more about the wine can be confusing: what is the difference between cuvée de prestige, blanc de noirs, and rosé? What is the best kind of food to pair with champagne? How many different kinds of sweetness are there? What is the best method of storage? Richard Juhlin, the world’s foremost champagne expert, answers these questions and more as he takes the reader on a journey to the geographical area of Champagne and through the history of the drink. He explains how to arrange tastings and develop one’s sense of smell, and why the setting where you drink champagne is important, including personal anecdotes about his lifelong journey from PE teacher to connoisseur. Also included is a catalog section that describes and ranks different champagne houses, types, and vintages. Sit back and enjoy Juhlin’s graceful prose with a lovely glass of champagne, the sparkling wine that has come to epitomize luxury and elegance. Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Good Books and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of cookbooks, including books on juicing, grilling, baking, frying, home brewing and winemaking, slow cookers, and cast iron cooking. We’ve been successful with books on gluten-free cooking, vegetarian and vegan cooking, paleo, raw foods, and more. Our list includes French cooking, Swedish cooking, Austrian and German cooking, Cajun cooking, as well as books on jerky, canning and preserving, peanut butter, meatballs, oil and vinegar, bone broth, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Champagne may be the most misunderstood category of wine in the world. The major reason for all the confusion is the use of the term “Champagne” appearing on labels of sparkling wines that come from places other than the province of Champagne in northeastern France. But true champagne can only be born in an environment that combines the essential elements of chalky soil, a cool climate, and the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grape varieties. These are the crucial elements informing the unique flavor profile found only in wines from that corner of the world. Without them, any wine—even a very good one—calling itself champagne, is just an imposter. Baffled by bubbly? Let wine expert Ed McCarthy clear away the confusion. If you find shopping for champagne a challenge, try this fun, friendly guide and discover just how easy it is to select the perfect bottle and: Appreciate various champagne styles Enjoy the author’s favorite champagnes Store and serve champagne Pair champagne with food Evaluate sparkling wines from the US and other countries What’s the difference between brut and extra dry? Is Vintage Champagne worth the extra money? You’ll get the answers to these and all your questions about that effervescent wonder. And in the process you’ll discover: How champagne is made, what grape varieties are used, where the major grape-growing areas are, and how those tiny bubbles get into champagne The difference between vintage and non-vintage champagne and champagne specialties, such as blancs and rosé Champagnes The meanings of terms used to describe the dryness/sweetness levels of champagne, such as brut, extra-dry and semi-sec All about the great champagne houses, including in-depth coverage of the author’s 25 favorites Everything you need to know about buying and storing champagne The best ways to serve champagne, including the best glasses, the best foods to eat with it and more Like most good things in life, the better you understand champagne, the more you enjoy it. This friendly guide will help you make your enjoyment of the most glamorous beverage on the planet complete.