Wines and Spirits

The Widow Clicquot - Now in Paperback

Through the French and Industrial Revolutions, Napoleonic Wars (which gave rise to the Napoleonic Codes), Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot not only survived (by wits as well as sheer luck); she stubbornly perservered to revolutionize herself as well as the industry of Champagne she came to know and love.  Tilar Mazzeo"s The Widow Clicquot tells her story.  And an impressive story it is. One could say that calculation and risk were in Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin"s blood.   She grew up the child of a wealthy family in the Champagne region of France.  She was only 11 years old when the French Revolution broke out in 1789.   During the Jacobin years, her father made the calculated move to become a Jacobin himself, masking his natural affinity for the nobility (and, in doing so, his own aspirations to become a nobleman as well).  And during these years when Catholicism was illegal, the Ponsardins married their daughter Barbe-Nicole - quietly - in a church ceremony with only family attending. The family Barbe-Nicole was  married into changed her fate:  she came to share a passion for wine with husband Francois Clicquot.  Theirs was an intense wine education, forged in the fields of Champagne.  Unfortunately, Francois died tragically young.  Barbe-Nicole was only 27 years old, and, now, a single mother. Like her father before her, the young widow - with amazing foresight - decided to take advantage of her widow status (the Napoleonic Codes dictated that a woman"s work was that of wife, mother, caregiver).  Possibly inspired by widowed winemakers before her, Veuve Clicquot (Veuve is "widow" in French) approached her father-in-law and asked permission to run the winery.  He allowed her to under one stipulation: that she work under the tutelage of an experienced winemaker.  Thus began the undertakings - risk, loss, luck, and all - that would eventually make her name a world brand and her wines an iconic figure of luxury and celebration. Tilar Mazzeo from the outset admits that there were few materials to work with when she undertook the endeavor of writing Clicquot"s amazing history.  This is because the Widow"s story is mostly one that "lives in the shadowy half-life of oral folk legend".  Nonetheless, Mazzeo is an impressive biographer and writer.  She doesn"t take for granted the recorded workings of other successful entrepreneurs and industrialists of the day, and her imaginings are more steeped in what must have-been, rather than postulations of what probably-was. For anyone who loves good wines, Champagne in particular, I can think of no better book to tuck into. With, of course, a lovely bottle of bubbles as well. The Widow herself was full of verve and cunning; and her story ð€“ as well as that of Champagne ð€“ is an interesting one to tuck into and savor.


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

Categories
Chocolate
Coffee
Cooking Tips
Crockpot Recipes
Desserts
Drinks
Home Brewing
Low Calorie
Main Course
Pasta Dishes
Recipes
Restaurant Reviews
Salads
Soups
Tea
Wines and Spirits
News of the day
Overview on Tea Leaf Family and Its Flavors
A cup of tea is just more than a refreshment drink. It is a companion that accompanies us right from the daybreak and helps us breathe an air of relief in the midst of daily chores. Gourmet tea forms an inevitable part of chatting sessions with friends and dear ones and adds flavor in our leisure hours.
Popular Articles

Unsecured Loans and Alternatives
Unsecured loans can be very difficult to get. There are many factors a bank is going to consider that might make it impossible for you to achieve a positive response about unsecured loans.

My Secrets for Getting Up in the Morning and Staying Awake
There are many methods I use to get up and stay awake. I set multiple alarms on my iphone at 15 minute intervals over an hour period, say 6:45AM, 7:00AM, etc. The iphone also has reminder alarms so my alarm might ring ten or twelve times within that hour period. Sometimes, the alarm is effective in getting me up, especially if I have to be somewhere i.e. at work. I also trying setting my alarm to a radio station. The latest news or songs often infiltrate into my dreams and eventually wake me up when I realize the sound is real. Usually, though, I depend on my husband to function as my alarm clock and a personal waker upper. I ask him repeatedly what time it is and then bargain for a few extra minutes, or half-hours on the weekend. I rely on my internal clock when I do not have to get up at a specific time. On those days, I get up whenever I feel ready and I might lie in bed for awhile before truly waking up. In order to stay awake, I have a quick morning shower and a cup of cappuccino or tea (chai). Staying awake is not as difficult for me because I usually get enough sleep. Stretching helps me appear bright and fresh. I move my arms in big and small circles, backwards and forwards. I touch my hands to my toes and then reach for the sky. I repeat this motion multiple times. Washing my face with cold water and a cleanser helps me stay wide awake. If I get sleepy during the day, and sometimes I do if my day is uneventful, I try to create a list of things to do. I write my list down and work to complete each task, usually minor things. Running errands helps the evenings pass without napping. During the workday, I definitely cannot fall asleep. I usually have coffee, a French vanilla cappuccino from Tim Hortons or a mocha or latte from another coffee shop. I know coffee isnt that healthy, but sometimes it just keeps me going.

© Copyright 2009