#31 : 250 Years of Louis Roederer with Frédéric Rouzaud, President and CEO

Before we begin today’s conversation, I’d like to introducemy next guest, Edwige Régnier, Director of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne.The Ordre occupies a fascinating and rather unique place inthe world of Champagne. With origins stretching back to the seventeenth century, it is the historic fraternity dedicated to celebrating and promoting the wines, heritage and culture of Champagne. Today, it brings together producers, wine professionals, collectors and passionate ambassadors through an international network extending well beyond France.At the heart of the Ordre are its Chapitres — ceremonial gatherings where new members are inducted and recognised for their commitment to Champagne. Rich in tradition and symbolism, these occasions are also very much about something more contemporary: building a global communityaround Champagne and ensuring its culture, knowledge and values continue to be shared from one generation to the next.Edwige has been leading this organisation since 2021. Herown story is distinctly international. The daughter of a diplomat, Edwige spent part of her early life abroad, developing an appreciation for different cultures while inheriting from her mother a deep connection to Frenchgastronomy, wine and the art of living. Champagne has now been her adopted home for some twenty-five years.Her career has brought together wine, gastronomy, educationand cross-cultural exchange including spending time in the United States before fifteen years with Le Cordon Bleu Paris.Edwige is also a trained sommelier, graduating top of herclass and in 2024 she was awarded the title of Maître Sommelier by the Union de la Sommellerie Française.Today, we’re going to explore the remarkable history of theOrdre.

Before we dive into today’s conversation, I’d like tointroduce my next guest, Maud Rabin.Maud is Director of Rare Champagne, one of Champagne’s most distinctive and exclusive maisons.The story of Rare begins in 1785, when a special cuvée wascreated for Marie Antoinette and the French royal court. That spirit of rarity and refinement continues to shape the maison today.Produced only in exceptional vintages, Rare Champagne isunapologetically different. While it shares its historical roots with Piper-Heidsieck, Rare has forged an identity entirely its own, defined by an uncompromising vintage philosophy and a signature style that is immediately recognisable.There’s remarkable freshness and longevity, but also layersof texture and a fascinating aromatic profile that can reveal exotic and tropical fruits alongside delicate florals, salinity and chalky minerality.These are Champagnes made not simply to impress on release, but to evolve beautifully over decades.In her role, Maud takes the story of Rare Champagne aroundthe world, sharing a philosophy built around patience, precision and, above all, the extraordinary.

Few people have changed the way we experience champagne as profoundly as Philippe Jamesse. A world-renowned sommelier and one of the foremost authorities on champagne service, Philippe has spent decades challenging convention, proving that the right glass doesn't simply hold champagne—it transforms it.His collaboration with Lehmann has produced some of the most iconic Champagne glasses in the world, including the Grand Champagne and Synergie ranges. These glasses have become the choice of leading Champagne Houses, sommeliers and collectors who believe every detail matters.In this episode, we take a deep dive into the philosophy behind these remarkable designs. We explore why shape, balance and craftsmanship influence the aromas, texture and expression of Champagne, the differences between handmade and machine-made glassware, and how Philippe has redefined what it means to experience one of the world's greatest wines.Whether you're a seasoned collector or simply love Champagne, this conversation will forever change the way you look at the glass in your hand.I hope you enjoy my conversation with Philippe Jamesse.

In this special episode of the VINE & BUBBLE Podcast, Sara Underdown sits down with Frédéric Rouzaud, President and CEO of Maison Louis Roederer, during the house’s extraordinary 250th anniversary celebrations. Together, they explore family ownership, the creation and evolution of Cristal, the importance of vineyard ownership, and why time remains one of Champagne’s greatest luxuries.

Today I'm delighted to be joined by one of Champagne's most progressive and thought-provoking growers, Cédric Moussé of Champagne Moussé.Based in the Vallée de la Marne village of Cuisles, Cédric represents the twelfth generation of his family's estate, but he has become known for doing things very differently. While many producers have spent decades trying to elevate Meunier from a supporting grape status to a serious contender, Cédric has quietly demonstrated just how profound it can be when matched with exceptional terroir and meticulous viticulture.His philosophy extends well beyond the grape variety itself. Cédric believes that great champagne begins with living soils and healthy ecosystems. His vineyards are managed organically, he has introduced geothermal energy, solar power, autonomous vineyard robots and even grazing animals to regenerate biodiversity, always with one goal in mind: producing wines that express their place with greater purity and precision.In the cellar, intervention is kept to a minimum. Every decision is designed to preserve energy, freshness and transparency, allowing the vineyard—not the winemaker—to take centre stage.Today we'll explore why Meunier deserves far greater recognition, how innovation and sustainability can actually improve wine quality, and why Cédric believes the future of Champagne lies in working more closely with nature rather than trying to control it.

There’s a quiet shift unfolding in Champagne - and it’s beingled by a new generation willing to question the very foundations of the category. EPC Champagne is a new voice in that movement. Founded in 2019, EPC is reimagining what non-vintage Champagne can be - placing transparency,traceability, and the people behind the wine at the centre of the conversation.Every bottle tells a story: where the fruit comes from, whofarmed it, how it was blended, and why it tastes the way it does. It’s a philosophy that challenges the long-held mystique of ‘house style’ and instead invites drinkers into a deeper, more informed relationship with champagne.But beyond the detail, there’s something more radical atplay - a desire to strip away the formality and return champagne to something instinctive and joyful.Today, we explore what happens when tradition meets a newkind of honesty with EPC’s co-founder, Jérôme Queige.

Today it’s my privilege to welcome Émilien Érard, Chef deCaves of Charles Heidsieck. Émilien was appointed to the role in 2025, marking a quiet but significant evolution for the House. He succeeds Élise Losfelt, who departed to return to her family estate, but he also worked under Élise’s predecessor, the legendary Cyril Brun. Since joining in 2018, Emilien has embedded himself deeplywithin the fabric of Charles Heidsieck. His work has not been defined by visibility, but by precision—overseeing the rhythms of the winery, building trusted relationshipswith growers, and contributing, year after year, to the tasting committee that shapes the House’s signature.Émilien understands not only the technical architecture ofthe wines, but the deeper identity of Charles Heidsieck—its language of texture, patience and quiet power. In this episode, we move beyond the surface, exploring thephilosophy behind Charles Heidsieck’s rosé winemaking, the quiet power of lees ageing and reserve wines, and the nuanced decisions that preserve identity across challenging vintages. We also take a look at the newly released Blancdes Millenaries from the less talked about 2017 vintage.

Today it’s my great pleasure to introduce a true pioneer inthe world of sparkling wine—Ed Carr, the Chief Winemaker behind the House of Arras, Tasmania’s most acclaimed traditional-method sparkling wine brand.Ed’s journey into winemaking was anything but conventional.With a background in food chemistry and microbiology, he launched his life into the world of wine after solving a fermentation issue in McLaren Vale. In 1995, while working with Hardy’s, Ed founded House ofArras with a bold vision: to prove that Tasmania could craft world class sparkling wines. His philosophy is rooted in patience, precision, and purity—championing long lees aging, meticulous blending by hand, and sourcing fruit from cool-climate vineyards across Tasmania’s diverse subregions.Ed Carr became the second winemaker outside of Champagne to be named Winemaker of the Year at the International Sparkling Wine Competition in 2024. Over three decades, his wines have collected more than 370 gold medals, alongside lifetime achievement honours. And under his guidance, Handpicked Wines acquired the label in 2023—ensuring Ed’s legacy continues to inspire and flourish.It's my pleasure to interview him on the occasion of Arras’ 30 year anniversary.

Domaine Vincey is one of Champagne’s most exciting andprogressive grower-producers, known for its bold vision, meticulous craftsmanship, and deep respect for terroir.In Champagne, where generational legacies are sometimescenturies old, setting down one’s own path can mean writing not only a chapter, but a whole new book. Today we’re going to learn more about the impressive husband and wife team doing exactly this in the grand cru village of Oger in Champagne’s Cote des BlancsQuentin Vincey and Marine Zabarino are the impressive, ifnot radical, growers making incredibly good champagnes, which get better with every release. They are fearless pioneers in a village where most of the producers are attached to just two local cooperatives. Quentin is the domaine’s eighth-generation winegrower. Inthe 12 years following wine school, he took the rein of the family’s vineyards, grew their holdings, commenced organic and biodynamic conversion and shifted the business model to make wines under their own label. Quentin and Marine released their first champagne from the2014 harvest - a 100 percent Oger blanc de blancs made from old vines dating back to 1954. Just 11 years later, they have become one of the most interesting and acclaimed winegrowers championing the uniqueness of Oger’s terroir within a delicious, generous and Burgundian style. Today I am going to talk to Marine Zabarino about theirDomaine and have my first taste of the new release Oger 2020.

I’ve long considered Pierre Gimonnet et Fils champagnes tothe be the reference point for high quality blanc de blancs in the Champagne region. Their racy, pure and mineral style reflects the highest levels of finesse and freshness that is emblematic of chardonnay grapes grown on thewhite chalky slopes of the Côte des Blancs. Didier Gimonnet and his brother Olivier, are at the helm ofthe family’s domaine. These days they are accompanied by the involvement of their respective children. Didier is one of Champagne’s great winegrowers and makerswho is also – and  uncommonly - a good communicator.I sat down with him recently to talk about his philosophy and passion for making some of the finest blanc de blancs in Champagne.