Widow Clicquot–Effervescent Pioneer

Inspired by a true story. Widow Clicquot, a 2024 Netflix movie, dramatizes the audacious journey of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (Haley Bennett). She married at a very young age to the handsome but deeply disturbed   Francois Clicquot (Tom Sturridge) who was heir to a champagne vineyard long struggling to be profitable. 

Based on Tilar Mazzeo’s biography, Widow Clicquot, the viewer witnesses the unjust and brutal consequences of being a woman business owner in the 1800s and  in the midst of a clique of  powerful competitors in the champagne industry.  Now hailed as a pioneer and international success, the champagne “Veuve Clicquot” has become synonymous with fine champagne (and also featured in some iconic romantic movies such as “Babette’s Feast”.)

The beautiful and analytical-minded widow (veuve =widow) has an almost magical realism she shared with her now deceased husband.  Deeply in love, Barbe-Nicole and Francois would sing and talk to the grapes in their vineyard.  Viewed as the legacy and spiritual embodiment of Francois, the vines will not be abandoned by Barbe-Nicole. She is defiant and determined  against great odds, both personal and legal,  to make the Clicquot winery a success.

Barbe-Nicole has an almost magical realism she shared with her now deceased husband.  Deeply in love, Barbe-Nicole and Francois would sing and talk to the grapes in their vineyard.  Viewed as the legacy and spiritual embodiment of Francois, the vines will not be abandoned by Barbe-Nicole. She is defiant and determined,  against great odds, both personal and legal,  to make the Clicquot winery a success.

Set during the Napoleonic Wars,  in the year 1805, Francois dies and leaves his deeply in-debt vineyard to his widow.  Francois’s father is skeptical and deeply conflicted about turning over management to widow Barbe-Nicole, despite his son’s will  mandating his widow manage the winery. 

Partly through sheer force of her intellect and also because of the dedicated teamwork of both key vineyard employees and a renowned wine distributor, Clicquot winery becomes an unexpected and enviable success.  The most threatened by her remarkable feat are some of the largest champagne producers, including Moët.

What the widow Clicquot has discovered and perfected is a new way to transfer the champagne from one bottle to the next, avoiding spoilage.  She invented a method to keep the wine in the same bottle, agitate it gently, and turn it upside down, known as riddling.  This revolutionized champagne production and is still used today.  

Widow Clicquot is a crowd-pleaser, with the charming Haley Bennett extracting emotional integrity in every scene with palpable longing for her beloved husband in flashbacks that Tom Sturridge seems to navigate effortlessly.  An informative historical drama about a remarkable French entrepreneur who sparkles with grit and yet retains her effervescence.

Availability: Netflix

Note: Both Moët Chandon and Veuve Clicquot champagne are now owned by the conglomerate LVMH.