Veuve Clicquot – the great Pinot Noir Champagne La Grande Dame at Alfavin

Veuve Clicquot is the second-largest Champagne house after Moët & Chandon and also part of the LVMH Group. Despite an impressive annual production of around 18 million bottles, the house still produces several artisanal, handcrafted cuvées that represent its excellence – notably the Vintage and the iconic La Grande Dame. Discover and buy these exceptional Champagnes online at Alfavin.

The history of Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot was founded in 1772 by the Reims cloth merchant Philippe Clicquot. The house gained worldwide fame under Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the legendary widow (veuve) Clicquot, who took over the business in 1805. A true pioneer, she revolutionised Champagne production by inventing the riddling rack (pupitre) in 1816, which is still used today in traditional bottle fermentation. She also launched the first officially recorded vintage Champagne in 1810 – a milestone in Champagne history.

Vineyards and Terroir

Veuve Clicquot owns approximately 393 hectares of vineyards, of which around 55% are classified as Grand Cru and 40% as Premier Cru. The vineyards are located in renowned Crus such as Bouzy, Verzenay, Verzy, Le Mesnil and Saint-Thierry. The varietal distribution includes about 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 5% Meunier. In addition, Veuve Clicquot sources grapes from nearly 400 contract growers – many of them families who have supplied the house for generations.

The Veuve Clicquot Style

Like Bollinger and Krug, Veuve Clicquot is a house built on the power and structure of Pinot Noir. While the non-vintage Yellow Label has become more balanced with an increased Chardonnay share, the Vintage and especially La Grande Dame are clearly Pinot Noir-driven. This results in a full-bodied, vinous and complex Champagne with subtle nutty and toasted notes. Traditionally, the wines were aged oxidatively in used oak barrels; today, most are vinified in stainless steel to enhance purity and fruit. Recently, the house has reintroduced oak barrel ageing in small batches to add depth and character.

Winemaking and Cellar Ageing

All grapes are hand-harvested in small baskets to prevent bruising. Each parcel and grape variety is vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, undergoing both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The bottles mature in Veuve Clicquot’s historic crayères (chalk cellars) in Reims, at a constant 10–12 °C and perfect humidity. The slow autolysis of the yeast during long ageing creates a creamy texture and delicate mousse. For prestige cuvées like La Grande Dame, the riddling is still performed by hand.

Top Cuvées

La Grande Dame

La Grande Dame is the house’s flagship cuvée, named after Madame Clicquot herself. Composed of around 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay, it ages for a minimum of seven years in the cellars. The result is a Champagne of power, elegance and precision, with aromas of red fruit, brioche, hazelnut and chalky minerality. The grapes are sourced exclusively from top Grand Cru sites such as Bouzy, Verzenay and Ambonnay.

Veuve Clicquot Vintage

The Vintage Champagne is crafted from around 50 Crus and includes 25–50% reserve wines. Pinot Noir provides the backbone and intensity, while Chardonnay adds freshness and finesse. A benchmark expression of the Veuve Clicquot house style.

Extra Brut

Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut offers a crisp and refined Champagne style with citrus and white fruit aromas – perfect as an aperitif or paired with seafood and fine cuisine.

Tradition and Innovation

The secret of Veuve Clicquot’s enduring reputation lies in the harmony of heritage and modernity. The house continues to uphold traditional Champagne craftsmanship while embracing innovation in vinification and sustainability. Its focus on Pinot Noir, long lees ageing and precise blending make Veuve Clicquot one of the true icons of the Champagne world.

Buy Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Champagne online at Alfavin

At Alfavin, you can explore and purchase the prestigious Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame from 2008, 2012 and 2018 and other fine cuvées online. Experience the signature Pinot Noir character, rich texture and ecomplex Aromas of one of Champagne’s most historic houses.