Aug. 12, 2025

Wine, Paris, and Power: Inside the Untold Story of Empress Eugenie’s Legacy

Wine, Paris, and Power: Inside the Untold Story of Empress Eugenie’s Legacy
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You know the Kladstrups. Frankly, anyone interested in wine, whether through in the trade or as a consumer, should/must read their first book on wine: Wine and War. Since they have published 3 more books and just releasing the latest: Eugenie; The Last Empress of France.

I was honored to get an advanced copy of the book and we had a chance to sit and laugh, recall history and talk wine.

Petie and Don Kladstrup have a peculiar knack for stumbling upon history’s best-kept secrets, usually while chasing a good glass of wine or a mysterious letter in a Paris archive. In this episode of Wine Talks, you’ll follow the Kladstrups as they unearth the remarkable story of Empress Eugenie—the last French Empress, a force of nature whose life is hidden in the shadows of her more famous male counterparts. Forget what you thought you knew about French wine and revolution; you’ll come away not only with a fresh perspective on the grand cru vineyards of Bordeaux and the Champagne houses' enterprising widows, but with intimate knowledge of how Eugenie’s untold story entwines itself with the very essence of France. Through the Kladstrups’ lively banter, listeners will travel from the opulent halls of the Second Empire to the chaotic streets of Paris under siege, learn why an empress was once dismissed as a mere ornament, and discover how she transformed French education, fashion, architecture, and even agriculture—never mind her influential eye for haute couture and her trailblazing push for women’s rights. History leaps off the page as Don and Petie describe the research adventures that led from wine cellars in exile to dusty university archives, weaving Eugenie’s Spanish roots, shrewd business mind, and political resiliency into the culture of modern France. Experience the story of how personal ambition, societal prejudice, and the subtle power of a forgotten woman unravel through lost letters, chance encounters, and a passion for all things French—especially when there’s a bottle uncorked at the finish line. This is not just history; it’s the tale of how one extraordinary woman shaped a nation, told by those who know how to find magic in both a glass and a story.

 

  1. Cakebread Cellars (referred to as the "Cake Bread family" in the transcript)

  2. Veuve Clicquot (referred to as "V. Clicot", "Widow Clicquot", and "Veuve Clicquot Clicot")

  3. Château Giscours

  4. Château Haut-Bailly (shortened as "Chateau Bailly" in the transcript)

  5. Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (wine competition mentioned toward the end)

  6. Air France (mentioned as a travel choice)

 

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