Represented by Pierre Casenave 

La Grande Dame by Veuve Clicquot is an iconic Champagne that has captivated wine enthusiasts around the world. Introduced as a prestige cuvée, La Grande Dame holds a rich history and an exceptional legacy.

At its core, La Grande Dame is a tribute to the remarkable woman who shaped the Maison Veuve Clicquot. Madame Clicquot, also known as the "Grande Dame of Champagne," inherited the estate at a young age and displayed extraordinary courage and vision. She revolutionized the Champagne industry by pioneering innovative winemaking techniques such as the first riddling table, the first recorded vintage champagne, or the first know rosé d’assemblage, also known as “blended rosé”.

The creation of La Grande Dame Champagne was inspired by Madame Clicquot's unwavering pursuit of excellence. Crafted exclusively from the finest Grand Cru vineyards, La Grande Dame showcases the unique terroirs of Champagne.

Over the years, La Grande Dame has established itself as an independent brand within the renowned LVMH portfolio, retaining its unique essence and separating itself from Veuve Clicquot. The talented Cellar Masters have carried forward Madame Clicquot's spirit of excellence and innovation, ensuring that each release maintains the brand's signature style.

The vineyards selected for crafting La Grande Dame are located in some of the most prestigious terroirs of Champagne. The Chardonnay grapes hail from exceptional vineyards in villages like Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, renowned for producing exquisite expressions of this noble grape. The Pinot Noir grapes, on the other hand, find their origins in revered terroirs such as Verzenay, Verzy, and Aÿ, adding depth and complexity to the blend.

While the precise composition of each vintage may vary, La Grande Dame has a Pinot Noir dominance of about 90%. Madame Clicquot believed that Pinot Noir had the broadest range of expression and potential to create the best champagne. Pinot Noir demands the very finest expertise from the Cellar Master and the winemaking team. Delicate, Pinot Noir also poses a challenge to those working in the vineyard. The Pinot Noir grape expresses itself differently depending on its terroir, exposure and the specific year’s harvest conditions

In 1976, Veuve Clicquot unveiled the first-ever rosé champagne under the La Grande Dame label. Crafted in extremely limited quantities, this extraordinary rosé Champagne showcases the Maison's commitment to excellence. The rosé cuvée is meticulously blended, incorporating select red wine of Coteaux champenois sourced from the exceptional terroir of Parcelle 'Clos Colin’ in Bouzy. The emphasis on balance and the essential contribution of Pinot Noir remains pivotal in creating the harmonious character of La Grande Dame Rosé.

Today, La Grande Dame by Veuve Clicquot stands as a symbol of excellence, elegance, and unwavering quality. It pays homage to the remarkable legacy of Madame Clicquot, a visionary force who revolutionized the Champagne industry. With each release, La Grande Dame captures the essence of its exceptional terroir of Champagne, showcasing the artistry and passion of Veuve Clicquot's Cellar Masters. It continues to be cherished by connoisseurs and remains a testament to the allure of Champagne.

About Senior Winemaker : Pierre Casenave

Born in 1977, Pierre Casenave grew up in the Pyrenees Atlantiques renowned for tapas, ferias and rugby, a region closed to Spain.
Pierre has had quite an original career path, as he studied Pharmacy first during six years at the University of Bordeaux, majoring in Chemistry. During his fifth year, he studied chemistry further in Pamplona, Spain. Thereafter, he completed a Doctorate Dissertation in Chemistry under the subject: a chemical approach to the vinification in Bordeaux. He recognized his passion for Enology and obtained a diploma in Enology at the University of Montpellier and has been enrolled at Bordeaux International Wine Institute in 2007 and graduated an MBA Wine.
Professionally, after numerous practicals and internships, he has been appointed as winemaker for over six years in prestigious wineries in Saint Emilion, Pomerol as well as the South African Stellenbosch wine region and in United States, California.
Pierre joined Champagne Veuve Clicquot in 2008 as Oenologist. He is proud to belong to the tasting panel, taking an active part in the creation of the finest quality blends for all the House’s wines. In 2019, he was appointed winemaking development and operations director.
Pierre also plays a significant role in the communication efforts of Veuve Clicquot - tasting, promoting and training all over the world.