The Story of the Champagne Empire and the Woman who ruled it.

The Widow Clicquot : A review.

A unique combination of a business biography and oenobiography. The winner of the Gourmand cookbook award. A captivating story of a visionary young woman with acute intelligence and great audacity against the backdrop of the 18th century France at the dawn of the industrial revolution and chaotic years of the Napoleanic War. A determine and daring entrepreneur at the brink of her financial ruin stood up and took control of her destiny . She was the woman who made the brand "Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin" the champagne, the drink of style, glamour and luxury it is today. Clicquot is like the Coco Chanel of the wines. And path the way for Champagne- the wine, to its celebrity status like Mazzeo puts it into becoming " another words for the mass cultural celebration". The book was extensively written and elegantly written but yet from the biographic perspective, I do wish to see more elaborative and deeper exploration of this complex character. it is too informative (on the wine) and emotionally dry; at times it did feel like reading an academic thesis (nevertheless, this is not a boring book). On the other hand, I respect the author integrity to share the story with accurate historical facts. Moreover, there's no access to an up close and personal look at the widow's life today since she didn't keep a diary.

As a cookbook it is accompanied by several recipes for wine paring and cooking: The information I found interesting was the historical process of making the champagne, the double fermentation that required the addition of sugar or brandy to catalyst the transformation of the malic acid to lactic acid hence, produced those famous bubbles (so in the past the drink was much sweeter). It was painstakingly temperamental process which subject to the right temperature etc. The history of how the process evolves through time is also interesting. And Barbe Nicole Clicquot Porsadin participation was not only in the operation management but also product and process innovations and improvements. My favorite quote from the book," The world is in perpetual motion, and we must invent the things of tomorrow. One must go before others, be determined and exacting, and let your intelligence direct your life. Act with audacity" ~ Barbe Nicole Clicquot to great grand daughter Anne.