I recently had the honor of traveling to France to teach and learn from some of the most incredible retreat leaders from around the globe. And while the workshops, conversations, and champagne-fueled strategy sessions were everything I hoped they would be (and more), I also got to check off a big ol’ bucket list item…
I visited the Veuve Clicquot champagne house.
Y’all. My heart.
It wasn’t just a fan moment—it was an awakening to the legacy of creating the finest, no matter the era. Veuve Clicquot has long been my favorite champagne (and not just because it tastes like celebration in a glass). It’s the story behind the bubbles that gets me. The history. The legacy. The woman.
Who Was Madame Clicquot?
Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, known as the Widow Clicquot (“Veuve” means widow in French), took over her husband’s struggling wine business after he died in the early 1800s. And in a time when women couldn’t even open a bank account, she said “hold my champagne glass” and proceeded to become the first woman to own and operate a Champagne house in France.
And she didn’t stop there.
She was:
The first person (not just woman!) to produce a vintage champagne
The creator of the first rosé champagne
A brilliant innovator who invented the riddling table (champagne nerds will know)
A bold-as-hell businesswoman who exported her champagne across Europe during the Napoleonic wars
Her guiding principle?
“Only one quality, the finest.”
Those five words weren’t just branding fluff. They were her North Star. Everything she did, from her craft to her customer service, aligned with that belief.
It Hit Me Hard
As I wandered through the cellars of Veuve Clicquot, sipping champagne and geeking out over the history, that quote kept echoing in my heart.
“Only one quality, the finest.”
It reminded me of something my Italian grandfather (my nonno) used to say all the time, in his own very non-champagne way:
“If you do it, you do it right.”
Those words were stitched into the fabric of who he was. Everything he did, but especially in his field of masonry work—it was always done with intention, pride, and integrity.
And now, standing in that centuries-old champagne cave, I realized how deeply those values have shaped me, too.
How This Shows Up in My Life & Business
I’ve never been one to half-ass anything. (Okay maybe a diet here and there, but we’re not talking about that.)
Whether it’s building Retreat Ranch with love and care, investing in our incredible team, designing life-changing retreat experiences, or mentoring other leaders in the retreat space—it’s all done with that same intention:
If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it right.
And to me, doing it right doesn’t mean being perfect or fancy. It means showing up with heart. It means paying attention to the details. It means creating something that feels good and does good.
This is why:
We use luxury beds, bamboo sheets, and thoughtful design in our accommodations
We curate experiences, not schedules—offering meaningful workshops, delicious food, and space for rest
I teach retreat leaders not just the how, but the why, and how to grow with integrity and alignment
Bringing Champagne Energy into Everyday Life
You don’t have to run a retreat center or drink Veuve to live by this mantra. Living with intention, pride, and care is something we can all bring into our work, our relationships, and even our self-care.
Ask yourself:
Am I living aligned with my values?
Am I creating with excellence, not just checking the boxes?
Am I showing up fully for the things I care about?
Because when you live like this—whether you’re planting a garden, hosting a retreat, raising kids, or designing a spreadsheet—it matters. It radiates.
Final Sip of Truth
Madame Clicquot once said:
“The world is in perpetual motion, and we must invent the things of tomorrow.”
That, my friends, is exactly what I felt in France.
It’s exactly what I want to pass along to the retreat leaders I work with.
And it’s what I hope to model every day—whether I’m pouring into a workshop or a glass of bubbly.
To legacy. To leadership. To living with heart.
And to always choosing only one quality: the finest.
Cheers,
Shannon
