Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Crus & Queens: A Historical Ride Through Champagne

Welcome to the bike tour, brief description of the day. 

Meet the main grapes of Champagne — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier — reimagined as your favorite chaotic characters. We break down the terroirs, the crus, the drama of Grand Cru status, and why sloped hills and cold snaps matter more than you’d think.

She was widowed at 27 and built an empire before brunch. This episode dives into Madame Clicquot’s rule-breaking business brilliance, Russian wine smuggling, and the Renaissance château she retired to like the Queen of Bubbles she was.

When grapes got cheap and fraud ran wild, Champagne growers said non. In 1911, vineyards went full revolution. We relive the day Champagne flowed through the streets, merchants ran for cover, and Damery nearly burned. Viva la Vigne!

No, he didn’t invent Champagne. But yes, he made it legendary. We bust the myths, toast the monk, and ride through Hautvillers — the so-called “cradle of Champagne” — to find out what Dom P really did, and why the stars never actually sparkled for him.

Aÿ is Champagne royalty, and Lily Bollinger was its queen. We dive into the town’s ancient wine fame, resistance lore, and the unstoppable Lily who cycled the vineyards daily — even during WWII. Also: James Bond, Churchill, and very clever chairs.

A celebration of the ride, the rebels, the ridiculousness, and the royalty behind Champagne. We toast the queens who shaped it all, recap the most outrageous tales, and raise a final glass to the wild, fizzy world that made this tour so unforgettable.

Welcome to Épernay, where bubbles built empires. We cycle down the Avenue de Champagne and uncover how Napoleon, Moët, and a bunch of billionaires turned chalk cellars into châteaus. Expect drama, decadence, and more Champagne than Versailles ever poured.