🍾 Champagne’s Rise to Royal Favor – For centuries, Champagne’s wines were mostly enjoyed in northern France—until the French kings at Versailles catapulted them to international fame. Louis XIV had his first taste of champagne as a teenager during his 1654 coronation in Reims—and from that moment, it was a favored drink.

🍾 The King’s Influence – As the Sun King’s favorite, champagne became the drink of the court, inspiring nobility and beyond. His great-grandson, Louis XV, took it further—passing laws that expanded Champagne’s commercial reach, setting the stage for its global success.

🎥 Filmed on location at the Palace of Versailles, this episode features Le Vicomte de Rohan, who shares exclusive insights into Versailles’ deep ties to champagne—and even its unexpected links to America!

🍾 The First Champagne Painting – In 1735, King Louis XV commissioned The Oyster Lunch by Jean-François de Troy for his private dining room at Versailles. Now housed in Château de Chantilly, this is the first known artwork to depict sparkling champagne, offering a rare glimpse into the refined lifestyle of the French elite.

🍾 Dom Pérignon’s Legacy – Decades before this painting, far from the gilded halls of Versailles, a Benedictine monk named Dom Pérignon was quietly revolutionizing winemaking. Often called the “Father of Champagne,” he spent his life at the Abbey of Hautvillers, pioneering techniques—selective grape harvesting, gentle pressing, and precise blending—that shaped the champagne we know today.

🎥 Filmed on location at the Abbey of Hautvillers, this episode features insights from Véronique Foureur, historian at Moët & Chandon, and Vincent Chaperon, then head oenologist of Dom Pérignon. Discover how a devout monk’s innovations created the drink of celebrations above all others.

🥂 Bonus Footage: When Do the French Drink Champagne?

We asked the French interviewees when they enjoy champagne. Of course, they savor it on special occasions—just like Americans do. But they also drink it casually in ways that might surprise you! Hear their thoughts in their own words.

🍾Prior to the French Revolution, champagne’s prestige was tied to royal patronage. But after the revolution, its influence spread far beyond the elite—thanks in part to Moët et Chandon. In this episode, explore how this legendary champagne house helped shape the global success of champagne.  

🎥Filmed on location at Moët et Chandon’s vineyards, historic cellars, and orangerie, this episode features insights from historian Pascal Pecreiaux and Jean Berchon, then Vice President of Heritage and Communications. Learn how Napoleon’s unexpected connection with Moët et Chandon helped expand champagne’s reach. Today, Moët et Chandon is the world’s largest champagne producer, with Brut Impérial as its best-selling non-vintage champagne.  

🌱Phylloxera: How American Roots Saved Champagne

Did you know that every Champagne vine today has American roots? In 1863, a silent killer—phylloxera—devastated European vineyards, threatening the very existence of French wine. Discover how an unexpected American solution helped rescue Champagne and other legendary wine regions from extinction.  

🍾 She was barely five feet tall—but she changed champagne forever.

When her husband died, Madame Clicquot had no business experience. Yet, she not only took over his champagne house but revolutionized the industry. With the help of her cellar master, she solved one of champagne’s biggest production challenges—an innovation still used today!

🎥Step inside Veuve Clicquot’s historic cellars as Fabienne Huttaux, Director of Historical Archives, and Genviève Dejoie, Director of Corporate Communications, reveal the remarkable story of this pioneering woman.

🍾 Then, meet the man who dared to bring his champagne to America.

In 1852, Charles Heidsieck—better known as Champagne Charlie -became the first head of a champagne house to personally visit the U.S. Where others saw an untamed frontier, he saw opportunity, transforming America into a lucrative market. But his fortunes took a dramatic turn during the Civil War when military blockades and new laws left him bankrupt overnight. How did he rebuild his empire—and how are President Lincoln and the city of Denver part of his story? 

🎥Filmed onsite, uncover the answers inside Charles Heidsieck’s 2,000-year-old Roman crayères (chalk cellars) with Christian Holthausen, International House Communications Director, who takes us deep into the brand’s legendary wine archives.

✨Watch and Learn about these bold visionaries who shaped champagne’s future!

🍾In 1855, Tsar Alexander II declared Louis Roederer his favorite champagne. To please his best customer, Roederer created an exclusive bottle and blend, designed solely for the Tsar. Discover the story behind this special champagne in the episode. Camille Roederer inherited the nearly bankrupt house in 1932, after the Russian Revolution, Prohibition, and the Great Depression devastated sales. A bold and determined leader, she revived the brand, ensuring Roederer’s place among Champagne’s finest. Thanks to her, we can still enjoy the Tsar’s champagne today!

🎥Frédéric Rouzaud, Camille’s great-grandson and Director General, takes us inside his family’s historic cellars to reveal Roederer’s fascinating legacy.

  For centuries, Reims Cathedral was the coronation site of French kings it replaced an older church, destroyed by fire in 1211, that was built on the site of the basilica where Clovis (the first king of the Franks) was baptized in 496.  During World War I, German bombs reduced it to ruins in a single day, despite priests’ desperate attempts to save it with a Red Cross flag. The destruction sparked global outrage, but thanks to American philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., the cathedral’s roof was beautifully restored.

🎥Filmed on-site, this episode features guide Christiane Corgié-Vergnaud, who shares its rich history and reveals the stunning stained glass windows depicting the story of champagne.

🎥Filmed at Pommery's famed cellars this episode brings the rich history of champagne to life. Hear from Thierry Gasco, Chef de Cave of Vranken Pommery, and explore Pommery’s historic cellars.

🍾In the 19th century, champagne was excessively sweet, with 250 grams of sugar per bottle. To meet the growing demand for a drier, more versatile tasting champagne, Louise Pommery, a widow with no business background, created the first commercially successful dry champagne in the 1870s. Today, 95% of champagnes sold are dry, thanks to her groundbreaking innovation. 

 🪖During WWI, Rheims faced daily bombings, and its citizens sought refuge in champagne cellars. By the war’s end, the region had lost half its population, and 98% of Rheims was destroyed. Learn how American philanthropists, including John D. Rockefeller, Jr., helped rebuild the city, including the iconic Cathedral of Rheims.

🚫 After the horrors of WWI, champagne makers were poised for success—but then politician’s Prohibition hit. The 18th Amendment banned champagne exports to the U.S. for 14 years. 

🍾Founded in 1843 by Johann-Josef Krug, this prestigious house is renowned for its taste and exclusivity. In this rare interview, Rémi Krug, great-great-grandson of the founder, reveals the craft behind their champagnes, and even how to properly open a bottle. He shares inspirational memories of the Krug family’s resilience during the world wars. hiding Allied airmen from the Nazis.

🎥Filmed on Location in Krug cellars in Reims.

  In WWII, France faced its third devastating conflict with Germany in less than 75 years. After surrendering in 1940, the country was divided, with the Nazis occupying the Champagne region. The Third Reich sought to strip France of its wealth, including its prized champagne. Nazi officers seized millions of bottles, but Champagne's winemakers resisted—hiding, relabeling, and misleading the Nazis to protect their finest vintages.

✨Champagne is often seen as a drink of celebration, but behind every bottle is a story of resilience, survival, and triumph over war.

🍾Women have played a crucial role in shaping the history of champagne, and Carol Duval-Leroy is no exception. After unexpectedly losing her husband in her mid-30s, she took the reins of Champagne Duval-Leroy in 1991, growing it into one of the most acclaimed and innovative family-run houses in Champagne.

🎥Filmed onsite, in this episode, Carol introduces her wines and connections to America. She is also chef and cookbook author, highlighting the versatility of champagne beyond celebrations.

🍾While many Americans reserve champagne for weddings, New Year’s Eve, and special occasions, it’s actually a wonderfully versatile wine that pairs beautifully with everyday meals. In this segment, explore how the French enjoy champagne with everyday dishes like omelets, chips, and guacamole. You might just rethink how you enjoy champagne at home!

Champagne, The Wine, The Land, and The People. by Patrick Forbes

The Story of Champagne: The History and Pleasures of the Most Celebrated of Wines. by Nicolas Faith

Champagne:  How the World’s Most Glamorous Wine, Triumphed over War and Hard Times. by Don and Petie Kladstrup.

Champagne, The History and Character of the World’s Most Celebrated Wine. by Serena Sutcliffe.

Champagne. by Tom Stevenson