YELLOWBOAM In 1772, Philippe Clicquot founded a wine-making business under the name Clicquot. In 1798, his son François, who had taken over the family enterprise, married Barbe Nicole Ponsardin. At the time of François' death in 1805, the young 27-year-old widow decided to continue her husband’s legacy. A woman of vision, she became the driving force behind the prestige and success of the brand, which in 1810 was renamed Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. Ever in pursuit of excellence and innovation, in 1816 Madame Clicquot invented the riddling table with the aim of obtaining clarified champagnes of unrivalled quality. She became known by her contemporaries as the "Grand Dame of Champagne", in recognition of her audacity and determination.