Q&A with Maison Clicquot

Q: First, please tell me about what makes the Clicquot Maison so differentiated and special in the realm of the champagne world?

A: Maison Clicquot stands out in the champagne world by its solaire DNA built around the myth of Madame Clicquot. Madame Clicquot was creative, visionary, and innovative, she made her name into a brand of excellence and had it shine the world over. Her formidable contributions earned her the nickname of "La Grande Dame of Champagne" or the Great Lady of Champagne.

Q: As a champagne brand, what is the significance of the Veuve Yellow or the brilliant golden yellow?

A: Our bright yellow is a universal symbol of the sun and optimism with a defined pantone 137C. Its brand personality is built around chic, optimism, solaire, a touch of madness, demanding quality and joy. Chic, joy, panache, optimism, solar, demanding – all encapsulated by our iconic Yellow color.

Q: How is Veuve Clicquot champagne aged?

A: All our bottles are aged in our 24km Crayeres in Reims in contact with the lees for a period of minimum 3 years, double the time of what the Champagne region established. For other marques such as La Grande Dame it can go up to 7 – 8 years!

Q: When should someone open vintage bottles of champagne to ensure its aged for the best bouquet?

A: As soon as the Cellar Master allows the disgorgement of a cuvée, it is ready to be opened and enjoyed. However, depending on your special taste and how evolved you expect your vintage to become, you may wait up to 20 years if you wish to.

Q: What are some of the emerging trends in champagne innovation?

A: We are studying the impact of global warming on our wines, particularly in terms of ripeness, acidity, pH and phenolic balance. We are working on two levers to try to limit them: The work we do in the vineyards: mitigating our impact by using biofuel to limit emissions and inputs. Using green fertilizers to make the soil and vineyard more resilient. We try to limit them daily.

Q: What is the correct temperature to serve champagne?

A: For a non-vintage champagne between 46 and 50 degrees and a vintage one between 50 and 54 F.

Q: What is the better glass to serve champagne to enjoy its full bouquet, a flute or coupe? Or is it just personal preference?

A: The best glass is a tulip glass or one that tends to look like a white Burgundy glass to enjoy the aromas at its best.

Q: Why don’t all champagnes list a vintage on the bottle?

A: A vintage year appears on the label if the grapes used come from a single exceptional year. If no vintage year appears on the label, it means it is a non-vintage made with grapes coming from different years.

Q: Can you tell us about The New Makers Collective as part of Veuve Clicquot?

A: The New Makers Collective brings together creators who break free from conventions to reinvent a fresh take on champagne. A collective where creators from different countries and cultures meet one another, come together, inspire together, and share experiences. The New Makers are contemporary chefs and designers. Chosen not simply for their talent, but also because they give themselves the means to realize their dreams; they are models of inspiration. With the New Makers Collective, we want to pass on this inspiration, this impulse to the world.