Veuve Clicquot is no stranger to a celebration. The iconic French Champagne brand has been regularly unveiling new (and equally delectable) creations since it was born back in 1818. But its latest drink is something special for the house – it’s an ode to the brand’s founder, Madame Clicquot, with its commemorative event set to be as innovative as the French trailblazer herself. And the best part? You’re invited.

Veuve Clicquot’s new cuvée La Grande Dame Rosé 2015 will be making its debut next month on Wednesday, August 14. It’s a wine heavily inspired by Madame Clicquot, a woman known affectionately as La Grande Dame by her peers, and renowned for her determination to push boundaries within the world of Champagne. In 1818, despite criticism from contemporaries, she defied convention by blending her red wine from her beloved ‘Clos Colin’ parcel with her white wine, becoming the inventor of the first known blended rosé Champagne.

While different variations of this rosé Champagne have been introduced by the house over the years, few have successfully captured its founder’s lively spirit like the sunny and elegant La Grande Dame Rosé 2015, says Didier Mariotti, Veuve Clicquot Chef de Caves. “It’s the essence of Madame Clicquot,” he says. “The perfect expression of her force of character, her energy, her creativity and above all, her love of pinot noir.”

To commemorate the launch of La Grande Dame Rosé 2015, and toast to Madame Clicquot’s legacy, a vibrant tribute will take place at Sydney’s Catalina, led by one of the world’s leading female chefs. Taking the helm of the four-course meal is the esteemed Monique Fiso, the Kiwi chef and passionate forager famed for her fine dining take on Māori cuisine and progressive restaurant Hiakai. Fiso has dreamt up a quartet of dishes to partner Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame Champagnes and reflect their shared connection to terroir. Plates will feature ample Australian and Kiwi Indigenous ingredients such as horopito and saltbush in innovative ways.

But arguably, Fiso saves the best for last – her dessert is dubbed ‘The Comet’. It’s an ode to 1811 (a special year for Madame Clicquot – it was a year that a comet passed over Champagne, and coincided with an excellent vintage; one that went on to make the house famous), and is a fruit-led concoction of layered rhubarb jelly, lemongrass semifreddo, fresh kiwi fruit and Clicquot-hued granita that (naturally) pairs perfectly with a glass of La Grande Dame Rosé.

The event is a celebration of female trailblazers, and embraces the theme in everything from degustation to decorations. Catalina director and industry heavyweight Judy McMahon is an apt co-host for the event. And, in keeping with Veuve Clicquot’s tradition of collaborating with fellow female creatives, Italian designer Paola Paronetto is behind the brightly hued decor, as well as the colour palette for the new La Grande Dame vintages.

If you’re clamouring to be among the first to taste La Grande Dame Rosé 2015, or to catch a glimpse of Monique Fiso at work, you’re in luck – the event will be open to the public, with tickets available for purchase. But be warned, places are limited so bookings are essential. Says Jean-Marc Gallot, President and CEO of Veuve Clicquot: “We’re delighted to continue the story of La Grande Dame, our exceptional wine, which embodies the house’s excellence as well as our love of pinot noir. For this new vintage, La Grande Dame 2015, we celebrate the resilience and passion of Madame Clicquot, in whose honour the wine is created.”

The Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Dinner by Monique Fiso will take place on Wednesday, August 14, 7pm, at Catalina in Sydney.

Tickets are $495 per person (minimum booking of two required), and can be purchased online.