Simon Porte Jacquemus dresses La Grande Dame 2018

Veuve Cliquot is releasing a limited edition, designed by Simon Porte Jacquemus, celebrating one of the first modern female entrepreneurs: Barbe Nicole Ponsardin.

Now known as ’La Grande Dame de la Champagne’, she was the one who, newly widowed, took over her stepfather’s family business, which he had run since 1772. Focusing on craftsmanship and poetry, the collaboration celebrates French expertise and heritage in a 2018 vintage.

THE GLASS BECOMES COUTURE
To pay tribute to the woman who revolutionised the champagne industry, the Reims-based house is launching its La Grande Dame 2018 vintage and calling on the designer at the helm of the Jacquemus fashion house. The French designer has taken the yellow label, a design that has remained unchanged since 1877, and given it a twist: a handwritten logo on a vignette with blurred edges. The bottle, draped in a white cloth with yellow calligraphy, celebrates an ancient practice (borrowed from the Italians) on hot days in the countryside: wrapping the grand cru in damp linen before tasting it to preserve its freshness.

The box is adorned with the signatures of both houses and an exceptional piece inspired by ornamental Medici vases. Designed by Simon himself and crafted over more than 40 hours in his workshop in the heart of the Marais, Camille Orfèvre, master craftsman and ’Meilleur Ouvrier de France’, uses traditional methods to design this glass cooler. Customisable and made to order (limited to 50 pieces), this emblematic 18th century object – which will redefine champagne service at home – comes with its own bucket, six original glasses and a tray. Seven different craftsmen are involved in the creation of these metal pieces (including a repoussé artist, polisher, engraver, enameller, silversmith, cabinetmaker and goldsmith). The box set also includes La Grande Dame 2018, La Grande Dame 2012 Rosé in magnum and La Grande Dame 1990 in jeroboam.

25TH VINTAGE
Veuve Clicquot, with its size and quality – 390 hectares with 96% of its vines classified as Grands or Premiers Crus – is one of the largest vineyards in Champagne (and has been sustainable since 2014). Pinot Noir takes centre stage in this prestigious cuvée. Cultivating the vision of Madame Clicquot – who used to say that ’her black grapes make the finest white wines’ – and under the expertise of Cellar Master Didier Mariotti, the wine, with its bright colour and notes of lemon and yuzu, reveals finesse and enveloping saline freshness – for a champagne that is balanced on the palate and reveals Umami. This autumnal collaboration, launched at the beginning of September in the heart of Central Park, will continue its journey to the United Kingdom, Italy and France this October. •

photos : La Grande Dame 2018, Simon Porte Jacquemus and Veuve Cliquot, 2025 © Veuve Cliquot