Few things elicit excitement like the sound of a Champagne cork being popped. If anything, for celebrated Champagne house Veuve Clicquot, the challenge is finding a way to add to what's already a perfect sipping experience. But with the release of the 2015 La Grande Dame, it's done just that.
For the vintage—the latest created in tribute to the woman who forever changed how Champagne is made, the brand's iconic namesake, Madame Clicquot—the company tapped renowned Italian artist Paola Paronetto to design six intriguingly textured, vividly colored gift boxes in the style of her celebrated paper-clay sculptures. Designed for display, each is as finely balanced and thoughtfully made as the sparkling wine itself.
A Colorful History
Paronetto's main source of inspiration was, of course, the formidable Madame Clicquot and what she calls their "shared lens of joy and optimism." Clicquot, who revolutionized the industry when she inherited the company in 1805, was known for her perpetual glass-half-full slant, "which you see with the bright yellow used throughout Veuve Clicquot," notes the artist. She was also famous for "an audacious spirit that continues to guide the brand. We are both enterprising and positive-thinking women, which gave me a strong common ground on which to build the collaboration."
"For this new edition of La Grande Dame, the final color range felt like it most harmoniously brought all these elements to life, creating a graphic play of light to show them all the textures at their best," she adds.
To really get a taste for the project, Paronetto turned to the makeup of the Champagne, with its notes of jasmine, acacia, pear, and clementine guiding her toward the six shades of blue, green, and purple she selected from her signature palette of 86 complementary tones. Even so, the "master of colors" (as the artist is often described) kept the brand's go-to sunny yellow at the heart of each package, "a nod to Veuve Clicquot's signature brightness," she says.
Natural Beauty
Having found her true colors, Paronetto turned to interpreting her signature nature-inspired style for the matte boxes. "It was paramount that it embody my traditional approach with paper clay," she explains. In her process she sculpts textural pieces from a mixture of clay and cellulose fiber, to create the optical illusion of a three-dimensional object on a two-dimensional surface.
She is also inspired by the landscapes of Italy in her art. That holds true for the packaging of the 2015 vintage, a blend heavy on the pinot noir grapes that Madame Clicquot enjoyed. "In all my works, I search for a balance between joy and creativity and my connection to nature," the artist explains.
Her faceted, textured approach "blends the novelty, stylistic innovation, and traditions of ancient art with that of pottery, while also being considerate of the environment," Paronetto says. She adds that every item is "handmade, fired, and colored by me," making each as one of a kind as any leaf or wildflower.
Twin Processes
Her technique pairs nicely with the production of the Champagne itself, says Veuve Clicquot winemaker Didier Mariotti. "A parallel can be drawn between the singular expression of Paola Paronetto's art and the Pinot Noir that I craft, guided by Madame Clicquot's vision and techniques. The uncertainty and risks Paola faces during the delicate firing process share commonalities with my experiences, from the harvest to the aging process."
There is additional correspondence, he says, in "the investment in time and quality, both for Paola's paper-clay sculptures and the new vintage of La Grande Dame, of which I'm very proud."
Full-Circle Sustainability
Paronetto and the Veuve Clicquot team were determined that their packaging be as eco-friendly as it is beautiful. They shared a pledge to produce each gift box with a conscious eye toward the brand's EcoYellow commitments, which are focused on minimizing the planetary impact of every step of the winemaking process, from reducing water usage in vineyards to making packaging lighter to produce less greenhouse gas during shipping. Accordingly, each and every 100 percent recyclable box is made in France using recycled and sustainable materials, including hemp, FSC-certified wood fibers, and cotton.
Immense Creativity
For those especially inspired by Paronetto's work, Veuve Clicquot also partnered with her to create the Giganti Bottiglie, a limited edition of 100 pieces, each unique in texture, dimensions, and color. Every exclusive offering consists of a bespoke composition of three giant bottles (one yellow, the other two in hues of your choice from Paronetto's palette), handmade on demand and signed by the artist. Also included in each package are six La Grande Dame 2015 bottles, three La Grande Dame 2012 magnums, and a La Grande Dame 2008 jeroboam.
Visit Veuve Clicquot for more about the collaboration with Paronetto and to shop La Grande Dame 2015. To order the Giganti Bottiglie, contact the company's concierge service at concierge@iwvprivate.com.
