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A Kick From Champagne: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It
Thw New York Times ^
| December 25, 2008
| JANE and MICHAEL STERN
Posted on 12/28/2008 3:54:45 PM PST by Cincinna
The Widow Clicquot, Tilar J. Mazzeos sweeping oenobiography of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, is the story of a woman who was a smashing success long before anyone conceptualized the glass ceiling. Her destiny was formed in the wake of the French Revolution when, Mazzeo suggests, modern society with its emphasis on commerce and the freedom of the individual was invented. Barbe-Nicole, daughter of a successful textile maker turned Jacobin, is portrayed as someone whose way of doing business helped define the next century.
Fate cursed or blessed her with the mantle of early widowhood. Her husband, a winemaker from whom she learned the craft, died when she was 27, leaving her a single mother the veuve (widow) Clicquot. Officially, the cause of François Clicquots death was typhoid, which was then commonly treated by feeding the patient Champagne, believed to strengthen the body against what was known as malignant fever. To think that a bottle of his own sparkling wine might have saved François! Mazzeo writes, going on to speculate that it is also possible he killed himself because business wasnt good.
Already savvy about winemaking, Barbe-Nicole plunged into a new life. Despite contemporary mores and the Napoleonic Code, which emphasized a womans role at home, she was not alone. She saw the success of such wine merchants as the widow Germon, the widow Robert and the widow Blanc, and understood that widows were the only women granted the social freedom to run their own affairs. With the gate open, she was off and running with spectacular results.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: champagne; france; oenology; veuvecliquot; wine
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1
posted on
12/28/2008 3:54:45 PM PST
by
Cincinna
To: Cincinna; nctexan; MassachusettsGOP; paudio; ronnie raygun; Minette; fieldmarshaldj; untenured; ...
To all our members of the FRENCH POLITICS AND CULTURE PING LIST, and to all Freepers who enjoy a glass of Champagne, I lift my flute of Veuve Cliquot to you and wish you and yours a very happy and healthy New Year. If you want to join the List, FReepMail me.
2
posted on
12/28/2008 4:01:40 PM PST
by
Cincinna
(TIME TO REBUILD * JINDAL* PALIN * CANTOR 2012)
To: Cincinna
3
posted on
12/28/2008 4:03:20 PM PST
by
GOP_Lady
To: Cincinna
Wow! This story certainly has a lot of widow's of wine merchants making a success out of their husbands business’
Hmmmmmm...
4
posted on
12/28/2008 4:05:01 PM PST
by
Red_Devil 232
(VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
To: Cincinna
Veuve Clicquot is great champagne. Actually, I take it back. Stop buying it. It’s too expensive, its crap. No demand.
5
posted on
12/28/2008 4:05:29 PM PST
by
rmlew
(The loyal opposition to a regime dedicated to overthrowing the Constitution are accomplices.)
To: Cincinna
Nice story; thank you for posting it...
6
posted on
12/28/2008 4:07:08 PM PST
by
Friend_from_the_Frozen_North
(If you are, as Rush would say, "A Glittering Jewel of Colossal Ignorance" don't waste my time...)
To: Cincinna
I love champagne.
7
posted on
12/28/2008 4:07:23 PM PST
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: trisham
Do you think I love champagne, too? :-)
8
posted on
12/28/2008 4:10:48 PM PST
by
GOP_Lady
To: Cincinna
9
posted on
12/28/2008 4:13:14 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______Profile finally updated Saturday, December 6, 2008 !!!)
To: Cincinna
I am a wee bit late but: Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee to you and your Family and to all./Just Asking - seoul62.......
10
posted on
12/28/2008 4:13:43 PM PST
by
seoul62
To: GOP_Lady
11
posted on
12/28/2008 4:14:47 PM PST
by
Cincinna
(TIME TO REBUILD * JINDAL* PALIN * CANTOR 2012)
To: GOP_Lady
12
posted on
12/28/2008 4:16:08 PM PST
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: Cincinna; trisham; All
Cheers! Best wishes for a wonderful 2009! God bless.
13
posted on
12/28/2008 4:20:06 PM PST
by
GOP_Lady
To: SunkenCiv
14
posted on
12/28/2008 4:21:39 PM PST
by
Cincinna
(TIME TO REBUILD * JINDAL* PALIN * CANTOR 2012)
To: GOP_Lady
Thank you! May God bless you and yours, and may He bestow on you a healthy and happy new year!
Slainte!
15
posted on
12/28/2008 4:23:35 PM PST
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: GOP_Lady
Mrs jimfree and I have enjoyed many bottles of “yellow label” over the years.
16
posted on
12/28/2008 4:28:23 PM PST
by
jimfree
(Freep and ye shall find!)
To: trisham
Champagne is great. Drink it all the time. Had Veuve at my wedding. Tres yum!
To: PurpleMan
18
posted on
12/28/2008 4:31:26 PM PST
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: trisham
19
posted on
12/28/2008 4:31:35 PM PST
by
GOP_Lady
To: GOP_Lady
20
posted on
12/28/2008 4:32:41 PM PST
by
GOP_Lady
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