La Grande Dame of Champagne

I had a night full of champagne! This was the only thing left on my table! A pretty interesting tiny object with the image of this old lady with a great history:

François Clicquot, married Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin in 1798. Upon his death (1805) his widow (veuve in French) became the driving force behind the prestige of this Champagne Brand.

In 1810 the brand was renamed Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.

In 1816 Madame Clicquot Ponsardin invented the riddling table to obtain clarified champagne of unrivalled quality.

During her life Madame Clicquot made strides in establishing her wine in royal courts throughout Europe.

It holds a royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

It has been said that Madame Clicquot is one of history's very first businesswoman. Inventive, visionary and undoubtely strong, "La Grande Dame of Champagne".

In July 2008 the oldest unopened bottle of Veuve Clicquot was discovered inside a sideboard in Torosay Castle, Isle of Mull, Scotland. The 1893 bottle was in mint condition, having been kept in the dark. It is now on display and regarded as priceless.