Veuve Clicquot releases its 2018 Grande Dame rosé

What happened

Veuve Clicquot has released the 2018 vintage of its Grande Dame rosé champagne. The announcement was made on 23 March 2026, marking the latest chapter in the storied history of this prestige cuvée from the Champagne region of France. The 2018 vintage has been described as éclatant — brilliant — a characterisation that will not be lost on collectors and enthusiasts who follow the house's releases with close attention.

Why it matters

Grande Dame rosé occupies the uppermost tier of Veuve Clicquot's portfolio, and each new vintage release carries considerable weight within the champagne world. Veuve Clicquot is among the most recognised names in the region, and its prestige cuvée commands the attention of both seasoned collectors and a broader audience drawn to the house's long-standing reputation. A vintage release of this standing invites scrutiny of the year in question, and the 2018 harvest — characterised here as brilliant — will inform how enthusiasts and the trade alike position this champagne within the broader landscape of recent Champagne vintages. For those who acquire prestige cuvées with an eye on cellaring, the vintage year is a material consideration, and the release of the 2018 Grande Dame rosé gives the market a new point of reference.

Context

Grande Dame is Veuve Clicquot's prestige cuvée, a category of champagne that represents the highest expression a house offers under its own label. Such wines are typically produced only in years deemed worthy of the designation, and their release dates often follow several years of ageing in the house's cellars. The 2018 vintage, now reaching the market in 2026, reflects the extended maturation that characterises wines of this ambition. Veuve Clicquot is based in the Champagne appellation of France, the sole legally defined region entitled to produce champagne under that name.