In 1972, the year Veuve Clicquot celebrated its bi-centenary. The Veuve Clicquot award was launched in France and Britain (awarded in 1973). The Award is now in 16 countries Austria, Brazil, Canada, China (Hong Kong), Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Russia. The Award commemorates the woman who inherited the company which now bears her name.

The remarkable Madame Clicquot (1777-1866) is often considered the first businesswoman of the modern era. Born Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin, she was widowed in 1805 at the age of 27. Veuve Clicquot ( Veuve means widow in French) defied every convention of the day to take the helm of her late husband's small Champagne house. She enlisted help wisely, took astute risks and made important technological innovations (including the invention of remuage or riddling, that leaves champagne brilliantly clear), leading the House to world renown. Madame Clicquot's invention of riddling was subsequently adopted by all Champagne Houses. She renamed the business Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and, against all odds, took the business to unbelievable success. She set the company's motto, 'Just one quality, the best,' and held her employees to that motto, earning herself the title of 'La Grande Dame de la Champagne.' One of her gutsiest moves was sending a secret shipment of Champagne to Russia (the Czars were some of her most important customers) when Napoleonic France was blockaded by the British Navy. Madame was not messing around!