Branding Story #1

Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, a young mother, at the age of 27, inherited a company involved in banking, wool trading & Champagne production when her husband died suddenly, possibly from suicide (others say a fever). She was known societally as la Veuve (the widow) Clicquot.

Under her management (women in business being unheard of in Napoleonic France), the company focused on Champagne production and perfected the ‘methode champenoise', which is still practised today. She is credited with expanding her wine's distribution into Russia by first smuggling 10,000 bottles of ‘Vin de la Comet” (wine of the comet – more on that later) to Tsarist Russia where it came to be known as the wine of kings. Today global distribution exceeds 16 million bottles.

The distinctive orange or yellow Veuve Clicquot label features an anchor tied to a comet star, representative of the Great Comet of 1811, which preceded a landmark grape growing season.

The veuve Clicquot was also a centerpiece in the movement to make the Champagne region exclusive in a land-baron sort of way. She worked alongside powerful (male) land barons & winemakers to make it so.

She wrote this wisdom (& feminist thought) to her great-granddaughter: “The world is in perpetual motion, and we must invent the things of tomorrow. One must go before others, be determined and exacting, and let your intelligence direct your life. Act with audacity.”

Brand color: vivid orange

Face of the brand: none

Brand slogan: “Only one quality – the best”

Brand voice: Understated, high class

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