Not Just Champagne | Philippe Bienvenu | Barrels & Roots

In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Philippe Bienvenu, who was born and raised in Champagne and has spent over three decades living inside the culture, history, and craft of the region. We unpack what champagne actually is, not as a brand or a luxury symbol, but as a place, a tightly regulated wine region, and a deeply artisanal product shaped by terroir, blending, and tradition.

Philippe helps demystify the difference between champagne and sparkling wine, explains why champagne has some of the strictest production rules in the world, and shows why there is no such thing as just one style of champagne. We talk about pairing champagne with everything from pizza and spicy Asian food to breakfast and burgers, why you should probably stop using flutes, and how champagne can be enjoyed without expertise, rules, or intimidation.

This conversation is about curiosity over snobbery, experience over perfection, and understanding champagne as a living, human wine that reflects place, people, and time. If you have ever felt like champagne was confusing, overpriced, or not for you, this episode is an open invitation to explore it freely and on your own terms.