HAUTE SCENE

Happiness IN A GLASS BY LAURA SCHREFFLER

CHAMPAGNE IS CELEBRATION IN A BOTTLE. WHILE THIS IS A SENTIMENT HELD BY MANY, this year, it’s especially true to Veuve Clicquot, as the LVMH-owned champagne house commemorates its landmark 250th anniversary by urging imbibers to “dream big, bright, and beautiful.” To Veuve, this year-long cause for revelry is more than just a milestone: it’s an ode to joy and optimism.

This is an story which started with “la grande dame of Champagne,” Madame Clicquot, née Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, who took over the reins of the house (which was founded in 1772) at age 27 in 1805, after the passing of her husband. Madame Clicquot is singlehandedly responsible for turning the brand into the powerhouse it is today, one that exemplifies boldness, creativity, and profound optimism — traits she herself held. Even in adversity, her conviction was to always look on the bright side. She would say: “What to do against such a cruel twist of fate? We must have patience, wait until the good season allows us to take our revenge and crush all competition!” She created the brand’s first vintage in 1810, as well as a series of major innovations including, in 1816, the first wine clarifying riddling table, which was then adopted by the other Champagne houses. She is also responsible for creating the first-known blended rosé champagne in 1818, breaking away from the tradition of adding an elderberry preparation by mixing a little of her Bouzy red wine with her champagne. Being the best was her goal, and she never strayed from it. In fact, she was known for saying, “If in the search of perfection, we must take two steps at a time, I do believe that we should not be content in only taking one.”

And so, for the house’s semiquincentennial — in honor of all that Madame Clicquot created, from the first wine-growing plots in Verzy, Verzenay, and Bouzy, which have grown to cover 393 fully-owned hectares distributed over 12 of the 17 Grands Crus and 18 of the 44 Premiers Crus — Veuve Clicquot has created a year-long homage to “Solaire Culture.” This celebration of the rising sun highlights the color yellow which, non-coincidentally, also happens to be the shade that has appeared on its labels since 1877. Simultaneously, this expresses one of the house’s main convictions: that each new day offers the promise of new possibilities to build a brighter future.

That brighter future is ongoing to this day, staying true to Madame Clicquot’s entrepreneurial ethos through the female-focused BOLD by Veuve Clicquot program, as well as on the environment and ecoconception for product offering, as reflected in THE ICONS Collection, an exclusive collection of four of the house’s most emblematic objects, re-edited sustainably, as well as its EcoYellow program, which focuses on Veuve’s sustainable commitments to protect resources crafted by the sun.

And now, there is really only one thing to do. It’s time to raise a glass and salute the sun. Veuve Clicquot’s vintages stairway

VEUVE CLICQUOT IS HONORING ITS MILESTONE 250thAnniversary BY CELEBRATING JOY AND OPTIMISM THROUGH “SOLAIRE CULTURE.”

& THE MACALLAN KICK OFF NEW YORK FASHION WEEK WITH COVER STAR OLIVIA CULPO

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4 5 TO KICK OFF ONE OF THE BUZZIEST WEEKS IN MANHATTAN, Haute Living and The Macallan hosted an intimate dinner on September 6 in honor of cover star Olivia Culpo, who arrived with her sisters, Aurora and Sophia, in style at Manhattan hot spot Avra at Rockefeller Center. Upon arrival, guests were greeted with bespoke cocktails unique to The Macallan and lite bites that embody Avra’s Greek fare. Parfums de Marly also had some of its latest fragrances on display, providing an exclusive olfactory experience for guests. Before guests were seated for a coursed dinner, Haute Media Group CEO Kamal Hotchandani welcomed and thanked them for being part of such a magical Manhattan evening amidst the busyness of New York Fashion Week. Hotchandani also warmly welcomed Culpo and expressed his gratitude for their long-standing relationship, as this is Culpo’s second cover with the magazine. He then introduced The Macallan national brand ambassador Molly Melville, who guided the room through a special tasting of the legendary The Macallan 25, noting the rich tradition and history of the brand before raising a toast to the Culpo sisters. Guests then indulged in an intimate dinner highlighting Avra’s signature dishes, like the Avra eggplant chips, Chilean seabass souvlaki, and branzino. The room was filled with passionate energy as guests mingled throughout the evening, enjoying incredible drinks and each other’s company — the perfect way to spend the first night of New York Fashion Week. Notable attendees included Senior Division Brand Manager of The Macallan, Max Gettinger, Larsa Pippen, Alisa Roever, Tijana Rakić, Paolo Zampolli, and Dr. Sachin Shridharani.

1. Senior Division Brand Manager of The Macallan, Max Gettinger, The Macallan national brand ambassador Molly Melville, and Olivia Culpo 2. Haute Media Group CEO Kamal Hotchandani and Culpo 3. Larsa Pippen, Hotchandani, and Paolo Zampolli 4. Olivia, Aurora, and Sophia Culpo 5. Culpo poses with her Haute Living cover