Madame Pommery is a historical fiction novel about the woman who created brüt champagne. It is a fascinating book. At a time when women could not do lot without their husbands, Madame Pommery would not take no for answer. I loved reading her story along with the war. At the end of the book the author explains what happened to the main characters in real life. I highly recommend this book!

Madame Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery ...this is her story. A fascinating woman who forged and followed Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, making a way for women in the champagne industry. Madame Pommery has a twist on the champagne vision and nothing is going to stop her from seeing her dreams come to fruition in what we know as Brut Champagne. In spite of the Franco-Prussian War, the challenges of doing this with minimum resourses and the doubters, she has her unwavering imagination, determination, and drive that will never take "NO" for an answer. Her story is fascinating and brought to life like only Rebecca Rosenberg is able to do.

Cheers to Rebecca Rosenberg for this astounding novel based on the life and determination of Madame Pommery. Ms. Rosenberg has an inate ability to take an historical figure and bring them back to life in her fascinating and intricate research she does for her novels. She actually makes me feel I've stepped though time and I become part of the story. I get aquainted with the characters intimately. Their personalities, appearances, characteristics all blend to make each one uniquely individual. I can envision the settings from the amazing attention to details Ms. Rosenberg gives to her stories. From the vineyards to the chalk caves. To the scents I can breathe and soak in the "feel" of being in Reims, France during the tumultuous and devestating takeover of the region by the Prussian invasion. Add the mysterious and magical, Felix the Matagot....it's just a novel built upon layers of fascination that kept pulling me to soak in more. I love that I learn so much about the history of this time period, the complicated craft of making Brut champagne, and mostly about a determined woman named Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery that I would never have known except for Ms. Rosenberg's in-depth knowledge and masterful ability to bring it all together into a novel I drank in like I couldn't get enough. This quote by the character Damas is one that jumped out to me with what the heart of wine and champagne making takes to be the best in the world:

"The secret to winemaking is joy," I tell them. "The joy of crushing the grapes to get the best wine. The joy of blending wines so they taste even better than they would alone. To be a good winemaker, you must quiet the chatter in your mind." I tap my temple. "And listen to what the wines are telling you."

If you would love to delve into the past and learn about fascinating figures and characters like Madame Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery, a woman with gut determination, Matagots, crayeres under the city dump, rising up in spite of the seeming impossibilities and the intricate history of champagne and France, then I highly recommend this book. Ms. Rosenberg is a superb storyteller and she's brilliantly crafted the pages in this book. I loved it and am glad I opened it up and stepped into a world I will never forget.

I want to thank Ms. Rosenberg for the incredible honor of reading her book. It's a five-star toast and more for me. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my heartfelt own.

I received this ARC complimentary from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book may have been complimentary, but this review is all mine.

"Madame Pommery" is about the woman who gave us Brut Champagne. Before this book, I was familiar with Brut Champagne as the one that isn't as sweet as the others, and perfect to balance OJ in mimosas (game changing if you haven't tried this one!). After reading this book I now know how Louise Pommery (Madame) transformed a struggling wool and red wine business into what we know today as Champagne Pommery. I also know way more about the Franco-Prussian war.

This is what I love about historical fiction. There are so many fun tidbits about history that I had to research just to see if they were true, and they ALL WERE! I enjoyed Rosenberg's writing style. The book has a strong female lead. Madame Pommery is going to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true in a time when women weren't typically able to do that. There are love interests without being too much of a love story (unless you consider a love of bubbles a love story 🥂 💕- I think I do now!). Also, the descriptions of the wine making process, children growing up, and French/Scottish architecture were beautiful. I now have a tour of the Pommery cuvées in Reims on my bucket list!

I really enjoyed this book. If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend!

Trigger warnings: war (blood, violence, death), miscarriage, sexual harassment

Champagne, France 1860 comes alive.! What a portrayal of a complex pioneer. Who would think of making a dry champagne when everyone finds the taste of sweet champagne preferable? Madame Pommery. Her vision grabbed me, and I felt for her from the start as her life took a turn that could have led her to heed the advice of “advisors” to simply retire to the country cottage when her husband dies. Under French law, she could own their wine business after her husband died, an exemption not available to many other women. But if she were to remarry, that would be an entirely different story.
Set in the midst of the Franco-Prussian war, I found myself completely immersed in the war that affected businesses so tremendously as she was hurled into the center of it, desperate to build on her constant entrepreneurial spirit and unwilling to be prevented from what she insisted she needed to accomplish. She made the impossible possible and along the way got the help of an assortment of characters who I couldn’t wait to see more of as I turned each page.
Even when she started to promote her dry variety and added cubes of sugar to satisfy the palates of those who were sold on sweet champagne, she found old friends who helped her, despite seeing some of her closest advisors force her into extremely compromised positions for their own power grabs and survival. Power and politics, war and day-to-day life despite it, sweet and dry, lost loves and big dreams, and again as only Rebecca Rosenberg can do, the mystery of an industry through the eyes of widows who risk it all to bring satisfaction to those with a love for champagne and wine. At points, I felt there’s no way she’ll turn this trick into potential, but Madame Pommery is a force of nature unlike I’ve ever seen. The way she handles some unenviable circumstances is admirable while leaving me uneasy many times. Every time she blocked traffic on Reims Square to harvest, the intensity I felt from what she had to do to persevere was exhilarating. What a rush!
Most of all, I love her approach to making champagne when asked: “How does an artist know what a painting will look like when it’s finished? They start with an idea and work on it until it becomes real. This champagne is my idea. In a couple of years, I am certain this wine will please palates.” She didn’t mask everything, even the grapes, and how refreshing indeed. I’ll be haunted by some of her pains, the excesses she witnessed, and most of all the joy of trying with every bit of her soul to see her vision through without foul play and sheer audacity, spirit, and willing to put herself on the line when others would fade away.
When the book ended, it didn’t fade to the back, her life burst to the front reminding me of what it means to be indomitable.

Madame Alexandrine Pommery faces a devastating loss in 1860 France. Her husband, Louis, passed suddenly and left Alexandrine in debt. With her son, Louis to support through school and young daughter Louise to care for, Alexandrine quickly turns her attention from grief to survival in order to support her family. Alexandrine decides to create what she enjoys, Champagne. However, she does not want to create just any Champagne, Alexandrine enjoys a drier Champagne, easier to drink anytime. With determination and drive, Madame Pommery sets on her quest. However, the Franco-Prussian War intervenes as her home is turned into headquarters for a Prussian General. With her son and employees fighting for France, Alexandrine puts her resources to use and hides the Resistance. When the war ends, Alexandrine has a new set of problems, but still focuses on her vision of a Champagne empire.


Madame Pommery is a riveting historical fiction novel based on the real life Champagne Widow, Jeanne Alexandrine Louise Pommery, creator of Brut Champagne. The writing effortlessly recreated the beauty of the Champagne region, the Pommery home and the chalky crayeres. From the beginning, I immediately loved Alexandrine's character. She is a woman of immense strength who went with her instincts and against common practices of her time. Alexandrine is also immensely caring while being fiercely independent. It was interesting to see how much Alexandrine helped her community, even while she was struggling, she maintained an orphanage, gave employment to women and created funds to help her employees. I didn't know a lot about the Franco-Prussian War and saw the effects on the French people through Madame Pommery's point of view. I was continuously impressed with her abilities to aid the Resistance and keep her business afloat during the War. Madame Pommery is a powerful story of an amazing woman who revolutionized Champagne.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Having previously enjoyed Rebecca Rosenberg's book about the famous Veuve Clicquot and the foundation of her champagne business (Champagne Widows) I was thrilled to get my hands on her latest book which continues the theme and tells the story of Madam Pommery, the woman who invented Brut champagne. Once again the author takes a determined and strong willed woman from history and beautifully elucidates her story for the reader, shining a light on a woman who was ahead of her time in many ways, while still determined to live by the rules of society and etiquette , she was not afraid to break them when necessary.
The author does a wonderful job of transporting the reader to another time and place, in this case France in the 1860s . I appreciated that the focus was on a woman in her forties, still in her prime in many ways, and how she coped with the challenges of family, love and business in a world where women were still very much second class citizens. Her boldness makes it easy for the reader to root for her success, even when the odds seem overwhelmingly against her. Her sense of social justice and her attitudes and actions with regard to education and workers rights show her to be a visionary as much as her belief that she could create an entirely new type of Champagne.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Rebecca Rosenberg, the author of “Madame Pommery,” has written an intriguing and captivating Historical Fiction Novel. I love how the author vividly describes her scenery, landscape, characters, and plot. The timeline is around 1860 and goes to the past and future regarding the characters and events. The author describes her colorful and dramatic characters as complex and complicated. There is evidence of images of beauty and tragic devastation caused by war. There are betrayals, danger, secrets, and death.

The female protagonist, Madame Pommery, proves to be both courageous and ambitious. Madame Pommery has been left a widow with two children and has to find a way to provide support. She has been an etiquette teacher and is involved in the local orphanage. During this time in history, it is very difficult for women to own land and business, but Madame Pommery is determined to make a dry champagne that will be memorable.

Madame Pommery faces many setbacks. The men are sent to fight in the Franco-Prussian war. Napoleon caused many problems for France. The bank is a constant source of worry. Making and storing the champagne is difficult. Other champagne makers don’t want to help or share.

Madame Pommery has to decide whether to stay with her business or marry. Rebecca Rosenberg has written a memorable novel about a strong-willed woman who makes her path and doesn’t take “No” for an answer. I highly recommend this thought-provoking and riveting novel.

Women have been so underestimated throughout history. Ironically though time and time again women have proven to the world that they are survivors. This book reveals the story of Jeanne Pommery. Rosenberg once again delivers in this latest novel of her Champagne Widows series. Readers not only get introduced to another bold, courageous, successful woman, but they also get to experience the cut throat savagery of the time period. While there is plenty of history within this story, Rosenberg makes sure to allow readers a glimpse of Madame Pommery as a woman. Pommery was not just a single mother trying to survive in a man's world. She was also a woman who loved deeply and had desires that she wanted fulfilled. Bravo to a woman who championed for orphans' education, workers rights, and for having the ambition to create something that the world had never tasted before. Many thanks Rebecca Rosenberg for highlighting this extraordinary woman!

The second book in the Champagne Widows series, I found this novel about Louise Pommery to be as enjoyable as the novel about the widow Clicquot (whose cameo in this novel was a nice touch, btw). Louise was a resilient, unconventional woman, during a time when resilience and unconventionality were not traits that were appropriate for women to possess. It was a bit of a roller coaster, really, reading this book; she experienced so many setbacks due to the fact that people actually WANTED her to fail, but then she would have her triumphs, because she refused to let them win. WHY IS THIS WOMAN NOT TALKED ABOUT TODAY?!

The reason why it took me a month to finish this book is because, amongst other things, I was also reading Daisy Jones and the Six in preparation for the series on Amazon Prime. This book is the better of the two.

Madame Pommery - a lady as magnificent as the champagne legacy she created. In 1858, after finding herself widowed with a baby and a teenage son to support, and no more than a failing wool business as financial security, she takes on making champagne. Not one to compete with the existing great Champagne houses, 'Never imitate anyone...', she created a completely new style of champagne; bringing the dry brut style, that we mostly enjoy today, to the world in 1874. A feat in itself, 'Madam, champagne lovers have been drinking sweet champagne for a century. You cannot change their tastes on a whim.' Beyond her success with brut, Madame Pommery was a true trailblazer, creating a luxury brand, innovating cellaring in chalk caves which kept temperature constant and establishing social security for her employees.

Rebecca Rosenburg brings to life this lively and worthwhile woman in her book 'Madam Pommery'. It showcases the woman, her work, and her ambition. In my opinion, the book should have and could have been longer and more in-depth. While Rosenburg touches upon so many aspects of this great woman's life, sometimes there were only glimpses and I was left wanting more. Nonetheless, this is an enjoyable read about an amazing woman and I'll toast to that!

'Rules are important, and we must understand them to get along in this world, but if we never think beyond the rules, we will miss a lot of opportunities.'

A strong intelligent female, champagne, war, love, family….what a delightful read this is! A rich tale layered with imagery, luxury, hardship and vision. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

"Madame Pommery" is quite an interesting book which covers a period of French history with which I wasn't familiar. However, I didn't feel that it flowed particularly well and suspected that it could have been a translation. Having Googled Rebecca Rosenberg it would seem that the writing is American with a smattering of French added to the mix. It was not a book in which I could fully immerse myself and I didn't feel that I came to know the characters particularly well.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Madame Pommery, Creator of Brut Champagne (Kindle Edition)
by Rebecca Rosenberg
A remarkable woman to be featured in women's history month. The fact that Madame Pommery was able to create a company, remarkably change and industry, and create a lasting mark on society shows why she should be featured in any Woman's history month. The personal and social struggles she had in the pre and post Napoleon wars is remarkable. Her struggle in France at the time after her husband's death is down right amazing. That as a widow she could have a business but not as a married woman. It changed her life forever forward. Living nearly 100 years she saw many struggles of her time. The struggle of the economy with Napoleon building projects to the wars affected the Champaign region, from the men being drafted to the financial struggle of the excised taxes is a formidable. She challenged many ways of thinking and made it possible for changes in social standards that created many avenues not only for her family but her region. She was a leader, because she stuck to what she decided was right despite any criticism. She is a wonderful roll model for many modern women, and show the struggle that women have overcome.

There really are not enough words to describe the new.historical novel MADAME POMMERY by the author of Champagne Widows, Rebecca Rosenberg. If you are a fan of history and champagne here is the book for you. It is a page turning story how one woman perseveres through loss, war, and an unwavering, unpopular idea for the perfect champagne.

The premise of this story was so promising. I love historical fiction and Madame Pommery seemed like an interesting figure to explore. However I ended up skimming the story by then end. It felt too hurried in some parts and too drawn out in others. I would have preferred either a tighter timeline or more consistency. I didn't connect with the characters very well and the felt one dimensional. The descriptions of the wine were amazing! I really enjoyed that and the descriptions of the wine and champagne making process.

This was really good and based on a true story. I was really interested and absorbed in this.
I just reviewed MADAME POMMERY by Rebecca Rosenberg. #MADAMEPOMMERY #NetGalley
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Editorial Reviews for Champagne Widows Novels:
"Barbe-Nicole is a captivating main character, particularly with her inheritance of "Le Nez" and the effect on her life. From grapes to pigs, the adventures she gets into with her nose are fascinating and are described in detailed and engaging ways. The champagne empire she builds is admirable, as is her relationship with Francois and its challenges. ~ WRITER'S DIGEST 2022

"Barbe-Nicole is a strong, determined woman, who defies Napoleon to make her business a success. Fascinating details about winemaking and everything that goes into it: the soil, climate, barrels, glass bottles, and the various blends of grapes. All these things and more affect the smell and flavor of the wine. I felt I could smell the wine along with Barbe-Nicole, because Rosenberg's descriptions are so vivid. Barbe-Nicole's narrative is interspersed with brief chapters about the rise and fall of Napoleon, and the evil advisor known as the Red Man, a devil figure disguised as a coachman, who encourages him to conquer Europe. Some of the most moving parts are the scenes where Barbe-Nicole harvests the grapes along with other women who were widowed by Napoleon's wars." ~EDITOR'S CHOICE HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY

"Vivid, lively, and packed with psychological and social inspection,Champagne Windows is highly recommended for women who enjoy passionate stories of friends, fine wine, and the delicate lines between personal and political empowerment." ~Donna Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Reviews

"These first known women of Champagne/Sparkling winemaking may not have even realized how strong they were until they had to learn and do it all to survive for themselves and their wineries!" ~Penny Gadd-Coster, ExecutiveDirector of Winemaking, Rack & Riddle

"The sun-drenched vineyards of France, a real-life heroine who against all odds refuses to give up her dreams... and champagne. What's not to love? And that's just what Rebecca Rosenberg delivers in Champagne Widows. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot was a woman ahead of her time, a fascinating blend of ingenuity, heart, and sheer tenacity, with a nose for wine and a head for business. Note: This richly woven tale is best savored slowly, though with all delicious things, it won't be easy." ~ Barbara Davis, best-selling author of The Last of the Moon Girls.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was one of those "available now" books on NetGalley and I just couldn't resist. I had recently read a similar novel about Veuve Cliquot (and it turns out this author has also written a Veuve Cliquot novel) and I was interested to learn more about these "champagne widows."

The story follows a somewhat predictable arc - wealthy woman is widowed but left penniless, must become a savvy businesswoman in a time (all time?) when working women were frowned upon (1860s France), ends up successful. She endures broken dreams, war, jerks who try to thwart her, "hookers with a heart," strained relations with her children, and finds love. I liked it!

I did not like how some chapters leave the reader on a cliffhanger ... and then don't address it in the next chapter. The book could have benefitted from a tighter editing in my opinion - the words "scoffed" and "huffed" were used frequently enough that I noticed it.

A fun romp about a woman I didn't know. And now I want to visit her winery in France.

This story follows Madame Pommery, the creator of Brut Champagne. She's described as a heroic mother and widow who created a champagne empire. This is based on a true story and delves into topics like social class systems, overcoming struggles and a daring tale of a woman who had an idea and executed it, despite opposition from her peers. I thought this was an interesting read.