Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is a champagne house based in Reims, France, founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron. It is the most modern premium champagne made with the famous Champagne Method.It is also the first brand that used red wine to create rosé champagne.
Another really interesting thing about this the brand is that in 1805, after her husband Philippe Clicquot-Muiron died, Madame Clicquot became the first woman taking control over a champagne house. It also holds a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
Madame Clicquot is credited with inventing the concept of riddling. The story goes that she woke up in the middle of the night and decided that they should take the top off her dining room table, prop it up at a slant, drill holes to put bottles, cap down. Every two days the wine is shaken slightly and rotated slightly. This allows the lees (sediment) to slowly settle by the cap. The lees are then disengorged (removed!) and a dosage is added (the winery's special sauce - could be port wine, cognac, kirsch etc).
Riddling is only done on the highest end sparkling wines, but the wooden racks are often sold these days for decorative storage of wine at home.
The oldest bottle known to exist, from 1893, was in 2008 at Torosay Castle, Isle of Mull, Scotland. It was in excellent condition, because it was kept in the dark. It is now on exhibition at the Veuve Clicquot visitor center in Reims, France. It is deemed "priceless".
To honor their roots of being lead by a woman, Vevue Clicquot holds a yearly Business Woman's Award.
IMHO, drinking Vevue Clicquot is supporting equality and feminism! Bottoms up!