A New Biopic Toasts the Pioneering Woman Behind Veuve Clicquot
The grande dame of Champagne is popping onto the big screen.
A new film about the powerhouse woman behind Veuve Clicquot will arrive in U.S. theatres this summer. Titled Widow Clicquot, the drama is based on the true story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, who became Madame Clicquot at age 21, upon marrying the heir of the famous French winemaking family in 1798. After her husband’s untimely death, Barbe-Nicole became a veuve (the French word for widow) at age 27, then took control of the Champagne house. No easy feat for a woman in the 19th century.
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Driven by her inventive spirit, Madame Clicquot created the first vintage Champagne in 1810. A true innovator, she also developed the riddling table (which helps remove sediment) in 1816 and produced the first known blended Rosé Champagne in 1818. These three inventions revolutionized the industry and became the basis of modern Champagne production. According to Veuve Clicquot, the house is still mindful of Madame Clicquot’s words: “Our wines must be flattering both to the palate and to the eye.”
Based on Tilar Mazzeo’s 2008 book The Widow Clicquot and brought to life with guidance from the company’s archivist, the screenplay was penned by Erin Dignam and Christopher Monger. Directed by Thomas Napper, the film covers the decade-long period from approximately 1797 to 1807. It examines female entrepreneurship at a time when women had few rights. It also illustrates how the Clicquots advanced winemaking by investigating things such as soil chemistry, the configuration of vines, and bottling techniques, with aggressive competitor Claude Moët of what is now Moët-Hennessy snapping at their heels. Some romance is sprinkled in, too, with a short but sweet relationship between Barbe-Nicole (played by Haley Bennett) and François (Tom Sturridge) and the enduring love affair between Veuve Clicquot and her namesake Champagne empire.
Widow Clicquot premiered last September at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and has received rave reviews. It scored 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and The Hollywood Reporter called it “an engaging and fitfully moving portrait of an almost accidental trailblazer.” The film won’t roll out to U.S. theaters until July 19, but the official trailer was shared via YouTube Thursday. If there was ever reason to sneak a bottle of Yellow Label into your local cineplex, this is it.
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