When we were headed to the play on Saturday we passed this Veuve Clicquot exhibition. It contains many Veuve Clicquot related items. They also displayed works from five different female artists who had their own take on the iconic brand of champagne. We quickly booked our free tickets once we got back to Windsor, although we did not know what to expect. Since we had already been to the Champagne House in Reims France, we knew it would be a quality experience. It was grand fun and we explored every inch of the exhibit. There were historical presentations detailing the genius of the Widow Clicquot. In a short span of seven years she revolutionized the production of Champagne. She standardized the bottle to improve the production process, she developed the riddling table to make the removal of the sediments more efficient and she originated rose champagne by adding some red wine to the bottle just after the sediments were removed. She also made bold business moves. She wanted to distinguish her brand from the other champagnes which were mostly sweet at that time. She marketed a drier type of champagne and after a excellent harvest in 1812 she sent a ship full of her "comet vintage" to Russia. The problem was France had an embargo on exports to Russia but the Widow Clicquot anticipated the end of the embargo and her ship was the first in port once the embargo was lifted. This was credited as the first modern champagne since all of her innovations came together at this time. It arrived to great reviews and soon became the drink of choice of the European Nobility
On a busy street corner facing Piccadilly Circus
We enter to the inviting glow of Clicquot gold
Different packaging and accessories line the wall
Polka dots on the Widow
A chronological display of different bottles
In 1893 the first label was colored yellow-gold
Nine old bottles of Veuve on the wall
Nine old bottles of Veuve
Take one down, pass it around,
Talk to the Cop named Stu
Elegant bottle holders
No end of products
In the center are eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging made form rice husks
The letters on the side of the box are sticky so they can peel off and be used to write a message on the front of the box
Delicate blown glass
Collapsible ice bucket
The golden fox
Basking in the glow
"Euphoria of Colors" by Monique Frydman
Layers of pink and yellow and gold
Who dat?
It is Mr. Mustache
Textiles coming together
A disco devoted to the songs that had referenced Clicquot
A café as well!
The Bold Award created by Veuve to celebrate innovative female entrepreneurs
It is an official "Pantone" color
Little hoods on the champagne raincoats
Piccadilly Circus
Entering the Theater District
We have returned!
Sweets
The roe and bowl section
So many choices
Salmon swimming upstream to my plate
Ikura and masago, not easy to eat with chopsticks
Japan crafts some fine liquor
