Rugby Champagne bubbles into Chicago

• "My husband's grandmother still lives in the house that they had from World War II and we think we might build a house there for champagne tourism," she tells Axios.

How it works: While Landrieux doesn't make the champagne or grow the grapes, she and her husband Pierre, commute between Chicago and France to work with two women-owned vintners on their "single-vineyard craft" champagnes.

• The couple landed in Chicago after their daughter accepted a job at UChicago Medicine.

The intrigue: Through local tastings last summer, they learned Chicagoans dig oaky flavors in their bubbly, "which is not very popular in France," Landrieux says.

• So they've imbued their Rugby champagne (named for Pierre's favorite sport) with "smoky, tobacco, whiskey and some bourbon" notes.

The bottles: Landrieux sells three champagne varieties — a rosy Vie En Pink with a hint of berry ($60), oaky Rugby ($80) and an apricot-colored organic Purple Label ($65).

• All are available on the Rugby Champagne website.

If you go: Tickets for the March 4 launch party cost $110 and include small bites, music, flowing champagne and swag.