It struck me the other day, and not for the first time, just how much influence women have in the champagne industry and I don't mean just as consumers...
The success of many champagne houses, both in the past and right now, is down to the dynamic leadership of women at the head of the house.
I'm sure that some people might well say that women are still under-represented in champagne. Nevertheless, the number of highly successful women in champagne, compared with other industries, seemed worthy of some comment, so in my forthcoming Bubbly Bulletins I'l be looking at some of their stories in more detail.
Here are just a few.You will already be familiar with some of them, others perhaps not:
( By the way, to make sure you receive my Bubbly Bulletins by e-mail and/or to grab a copy of my e-book, The Insider's Guide to Champagne, go to www.madaboutbubbly.com)
Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin married François Clicquot at the end of the 18th century. François was the son of Philippe Clicqout who had founded Champagne Clicquot in 1772 and their champagne company was growing fast.
François tragically died at the age of only 30, just six years after marrying, leaving Nicole-Barbe as the original Veuve Cliquot. Despite her father-in-law's scepticism, Nicole-Barbe took on ever-widening responsibilities at the company and lead it from strength to strength until her death in 1866
Louise Pommery's story was much the same. Widowed in the late 1860s, Louise built the fortunes of Champagne Pommery with two masterful strokes: she developed the British market when most other houses were focussed on Russia and she introduced brut champagne when most champagne was far sweeter.
In the 20th century Elisabeth (Lily) Bollinger took over the running of Champagne Bollinger when her husband, Jacques, died in 1941. She personally handled the marketing of the brand and after the war was responsible for re-establishing Bollinger in Great Britain and The U.S.A.
It was Lily too, who introduced RD (recently disgorged) champagne .
Right up to the present day, many houses are run by women
Carol Duval at Champagne Duval-Leroy
Béatrice Cointreau at Gosset
Evelyne Boizel at the champagne of the same name,
whilst, back at Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, the current présidente of the company, following very much in the foosteps of La Grand Dame herself, is Cécile Bonnefond.
Join me at www.madaboutbubbly.com for more about all of these remarkable women and others
Stay Bubbly
Jiles
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