Trip of a Lifetime

Un forum dans Reims pour la Veuve Clicquot

7-9 October 2009

It would have been impossible for any deserved winner of an award such as the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year to know what was in store upon the collection of her prize – and what a prize event it was!

Never one for surprises, I had made contact with Julie Christie, last year’s inaugural winner, to discuss the highs and lows of her trip. A relatively uneventful half an hour passed as we shared a coffee close to Julie’s place of work, and she reflected on the three days that she had embraced the Veuve Clicquot culture and the city of Reims, with all it had to offer.

The one thing I did ascertain from our catch-up was that partners were a welcome handbag for the journey and event, and not the forbidden fruit that I had been led to believe. So, one return business class ticket to Paris, courtesy of Veuve Clicquot and Tony and I were on our way. First destination – London, which is always great for a roundup of what is new in the world of fashion and, this time, I had also been asked to address a group of local Kiwi businesswomen living and working in London. Never one to miss an opportunity, I accepted without hesitation.

Our London sojourn was over in an instant. We left Heathrow early Tuesday morning, flying British Airways. Landing 30 minutes later at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, the Veuve Clicquot experience was about to begin.

Waiting just outside the door of the plane, on the tip of the drawbridge stood the man given the task of our initial meet and greet. Difficult not to notice the spelling error in my surname but undeterred, we basked in the special treatment as he located our bags and prioritized us through customs, much to the dismay of others waiting patiently in the long immigration queues.

Outside a black Mercedes awaited, parked barely seconds from the door that we exited - no long traipse to the car park for us. Luggage booted, ensconced in the back seat of the car and searching for our first glass of Clicquot, (unfortunately not yet on the horizon) we raced towards the city.

Knowing that we had a day and a half before the formal proceedings of the Clicquot award, we enjoyed the shopping that only a city like Paris can deliver; grimacing at the prices. It has to be one of the most expensive places in the world; even Veuve Clicquot is cheaper outside its native homeland.

Time passed quickly and Wednesday evening arrived. The first event, a river cruise, preceded by a visit to the Madame Vionnet exhibition at a Paris museum. We all met in the lobby of the Sofitel Hotel, selected for us by Clicquot, and undertook some hurried informal introductions – so many new names to remember in a potpourri of languages.
Determined not to judge but to simply let it all wash over me, we boarded a waiting bus. Our South African cousin Tim broke the ice with a steady stream of introductions. It transpires that a special tour of Madame Vionnet’s fashion collection has been organised before the river cruise.



The exhibition was wonderful, well chosen by Veuve Clicquot, given the powerful, pioneering, gutsy and determined synergies that Madame Vionnet had with the Widow Clicquot. The relevance of an exhibition like this for someone like me was magical. Knowing very little about this woman, I was able to absorb and embrace the wonderful designs and the incredible story of Madam Vionnet, a true legend in the history of French fashion.

Tour complete, we enjoyed a stroll across a park to meet the boat that was to chaperone us for the evening. While most of the other guests remained relative strangers, Tony and I had managed to acquaint ourselves with our antipodean neighbours, Mandy and Stu. As it transpired, the stroll was not without incident. Just as we reached a covered archway adjacent to the river, the heavy dark clouds, which had been threatening to release their wet contents all day, opened up! Given the many coiffured hairdos and the lack of umbrellas, this was a disaster. Huddled under the scant protection, we soon had made friends in the fastest and most intimate of manners. The boat finally docked and we all boarded resembling a pack of drowned rats but happy to be safe in the opulent lounge of the riverboat.

The evening sparkled. Veuve Clicquot had designated the seating, starting as they intended to continue over the three days. My misspelt nametag meant a course of action really was necessary. The thought of my wonderful plaque sporting ‘Stratton’ instead of ‘Stretton’ as I christened the grapevine the next day, was simply too much for me to bear.

The champagne flowed, the food was excellent, the entertainment from an amazing band called The Gypsy Kings quickly connected with us all as they played favourite songs from our homelands, which generated a sing-along from the outset.

The night ended all too quickly. The table setup, long and narrow, had prevented us from getting to know all the other winners on the first night but the scene was set for the next two days. Charged with anticipation, we caught cabs back to our hotel, knowing that tomorrow would see us on the 8am train to Reims and the start of a day that I will remember for many years to come.

We arrived at Reims on time and were transferred by bus to the Veuve Clicquot promotional cellar. A quick breakfast of traditional French pastries (still no champagne) and we were off for a guided tour of the ancient Roman caves that make up the production cellars of every Veuve Clicquot vintage. Having read the Widow Clicquot’s storybook before I arrived, meant I had a good introduction to the history and process involved in the production of champagne but the tour took the whole process to another level – brilliant!

The tour ended with a presentation of a very special bottle of champagne to each of the winners. Sealed in the traditional way, each bottle would become an absolute keeper. A closer inspection of my bottle revealed a label printed with my name spelt ‘Stratton’ not ‘Stretton’. Fortunately, this was to be the last of the spelling errors.

The cellar tour ended with lots of photos taken by the respective media, attending from all parts of the globe. My one regret was not wearing a bright orange tunic or scarf, as this truly was the day to embrace the Widow Clicquot’s colour and it was certainly an assured way to attract the cameras of the ever-ready media.

We were eventually encouraged back to the buses, not an easy task given the growing friendships and the flow of conversation. It was time for lunch and I was headed for Vesney and one of the Widow’s chateaus to meet the CEO Cecile, and to dine together exclusively with the other eleven winners.

This meal was the first time that we had been in the company of the other winners, devoid of the entourage that so many of them had brought. The lunch began with an introduction from each of us – an endearing look at how we saw the world and this event, rather than a hard sell on our best business practice.

The food was divine and the champagne at last flowed! Coffee in the garden saw us reunite with our partners and the media entourage and then it was in to the adjacent vineyard for our most spectacular moment.

Quietly, we all waited our turn, champagne glass in hand (I don’t think you could ever have too much of this tipple, there seems to be a type for every food and occasion. Who would have thought it could accompany an entire four-course meal!) as a film crew and Veuve Clicquot cast methodically worked through each woman’s vine christening. Being last simply prolonged the whole delicious process for me.



When it came to my turn, you would not have known that 10 women had gone before me. The Master of Ceremonies, a direct descendent of Count Edouard Werle, the Widow’s business partner, went through the whole christening process with vigour and great enthusiasm as if it were his first. The press furiously clicked off their photos, the sun shone and I felt incredibly privileged and special to be awarded this lifelong honour. It was, however, the provenance that the small orange plaque (with a correctly spelt ‘Annah Stretton’) would continue to bear fruit for generations to come that was the biggest part of this award for me.

Not to be overlooked is the bottle of Grande Dame champagne that will arrive on the Widow’s birthday each year to celebrate my award in perpetuity. Especially cool for me as the Dame’s birthday is one day before mine. Sagittarians, I always saw them as exceptional achievers!

The day ended all too quickly. The bus was ready to depart one more time, this time it was back to Reims to check into the night’s accommodation. The Hotel, in true French spirit, was magnificent. It was a feast of heritage and themed collectibles – simply amazing.

At 7.30pm sharp, we were to meet in the lounge for aperitifs before we were ferried to our dinner destination. The bar was magnificent and the champagne and nibbles divine. The women slowly arrived dressed to impress, in that this was the culmination of our splendid day. This was to be a wonderful night and we all certainly looked the part.

Dinner was at another of the Widow’s properties – a stoic room steeped with relics of the past. It was beautifully presented: formally set tables, flowers and carefully planned mood lighting. Lots of conversation filled the room and photo opportunities were rife. Two awards were presented to two women that had achieved wonderfully by ensuring they had a strong philanthropic heart to their businesses.

On our last morning, we had been asked to give three hours of our time to a working session with the Veuve Clicquot senior team. Intrigued and obedient, we all attended. This was a wonderful forum for Veuve Clicquot to have the minds of such capable women harnessed in one room for this extended period. The goal, as it transpired, was to get feedback from us and to look at ways they could drive the event forward.

Veuve Clicquot obtained some wonderful information from this session. How they choose to use this will be interesting. A further benefit for us was that we all connected at yet another level as we worked in our set groups planning and debating on how to drive the brand of Veuve Clicquot and their prestigious business award forward.

Session over, some had to rush away but determined to embrace every last moment, we headed back to the Veuve Clicquot’s promotional cellars for a light lunch. A fabulous final hurrah to those left behind, fabulous food matched with gorgeous champagne. Some obligatory guestbook signing, business card swapping and we departed for the train back to Paris.

These three days had been spectacular. The women I met will provide connections for life but it will be up to me to foster this. So, as with anything in life, an event like this will only go where I take it. Mandy, the Australian winner, and myself have already started to talk about an annual event to connect the cumulative nine winners that we have between Australia and New Zealand. Whether this happens has yet to be seen, but I hope so.

By Annah Stretton