Hundreds of years before the rise of feminism and the reconsidering of female roles, there was a young lady in the heart of Champagne who following the sudden death of her husband turned against all social norms and decided to manage the family’s champagne house by herself. Under the name of Madame Clicquot, Barbe Nicole Ponsardin didn’t just become world famous for being an estate manager but also because she was a great innovator. Together with her cellar master, she invented the riddling rack, one of the foundations of traditional Champagne making. Following this beautiful tradition, the Champagne house annually hands out the world’s best female chef and businesswoman of the year awards.