Widow Clicquot: the Woman behind a Champagne Empire

Update - 1/16/09: This show has aired. You can download the MP3 from our archive. Let us know what you think!
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Lisa Bu

The history of champagne is filled with folklores. Some are bogus, such as the happy cry of Dom Pierre Perignon in his cellar: "Come quickly! I am drinking the stars!" Early winemakers were anything but delighted by the bubbles, according to Tilar Mazzeo, the guest of our food show this coming Friday Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. Central time. Some other folklores are true but little known in the United States such as the legacy of Madame Clicquot who elevated the status of champagne from defective to celebrity wine.

In the wake of the French Revolution, Madame Clicquot became a widow and single mother at age 27. But widowhood also gave her social permission to run her own business. And she started a champagne empire and built a legacy. Author of "The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It," Tilar will recount the story of a legendary entrepreneur and answer your questions during our show. To make sure to have your questions answered, please call our hotline at 1-877-GLOBE-07 or pose them as comments to this blog entry.