Every business needs to grow revenue and profits in order to survive, so we chip away at costs and are forced to either sell more of our products and services to existing customers or sell to new customers. In a move that once seemed unthinkable, luxury Champagne producer Veuve Clicquot has produced a champagne specifically for making mixed drinks in order to attract young new customers who are trendy, connected and free-spirited. Veuve Clicquot Rich was introduced mid-last year; however, it has just made it to our shores.

Sweet

Rich is inspired by “Veuve Clicquot’s history of innovation”. The sweeter Champagnes circa Madame Clicquot – were called “rich” wines. Veuve Clicquot Rich is a blend of 45 per cent pinot noir, 40 per cent pinot meunier, and 15 per cent chardonnay presented in a very silvery discoball-esque bottle.

In the Champagne-making process, there is a stage that takes place between disgorging and final corking. It involves topping off the wine with a mixture of the base wine, sugar, preservative, and sometimes alcohol. Sugar addition is called dosage, and the added liquid mixture is called a liqueur d’expédition. Your typical champagne is around 9g/l of sugar, RICH is 60g/l; it is sweet. Newer wine drinkers always seem to prefer sweet wines.

Clicquology – Rich is for mixology

Veuve Clicquot Rich is designed to be mixed with fruits, vegetables, teas and/or herbs. At a recent tasting hosted by local importer J Wray & Nephew, we were given very specific mixing instructions: place five ice cubes in an enlarged burgundy-shaped glass, choose one (1) ingredient and then pour chilled Veuve Clicquot Rich. I enjoyed both the pineapple and the lime zest drinks (or dare I say Clicquot RICH cocktails).

Veuve Clicquot is not the first Champagne house to get creative. In our market we also have Moët & Chandon’s Ice Impérial, which was designed to be poured over ice – most persons don’t actually follow the guidelines at all, they just pour and drink. Will they log on to Clicquology?

One wonders, what would Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, François Clicquot and Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (Madame Clicquot) think of its latest incarnation?

Christopher Reckord – Information Technology Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. Send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Periscope @chrisreckord and on Twitter: @Reckord