Charles Heidsieck’s legendary Champagne Charlie is back | New

A historic champagne house celebrates the bicentenary of its founder with its historic cuvée

REIMS, France, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Charles Heidsieck, one of Champagne’s most admired producers, today announced the new edition of Champagne Charlie, a historic cuvée launched to celebrate Founder’s bicentennial, Charles-Camille Heidsieck.

The new edition is the first release in 37 years, and only the sixth release in the history of Champagne Charlie, after 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1985. American wine lovers will be the first to taste this legendary cuvée with celebrations starting in New York Citya town where Charles-Camille himself sold thousands of bottles in the 19th century.

A legendary man with an inspiring vision

By launching the new Champagne Charlie cuvée, the House demonstrates a significant and long-term investment in the heritage of its Founder, as Managing Director, Stephane Leroux Explain :

“We are reviving a tradition. By confirming our decision to make the “Charles spirit” and Charlie’s passion the very essence of the House, we are recreating our flagship. We will only produce a very limited quantity of bottles for the first issue of this new version, which is in fact a revival. It will only be available through a very limited network of distributors.”

The great art of blending rendered in champagne

At the end of the 1970s, then wine merchant Daniel Thibault worked alongside the Heidsieck family to create Champagne Charlie as a tribute to their ancestor. With a long history of shaping Charles’ signature style of wine, Thibault followed his instincts to tackle what was to be one of the most resounding successes of his winemaking career – the creation of all five editions of Champagne Charlie – 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1985.

In the development of the new Champagne Charlie, cellar master Cyril Brown interpreted the spirit of the Founder.

“For this new edition of Charlie, I was inspired by previous editions, tasting each of the past editions to reconnect with the initial creation. My first impression was overwhelming; the freshness and aromatic intensity and the silky saline finish were systematically found in all the wines, as if these qualities transcended the effect of the vintage.That was the key.

He continued:

“This Charlie Renaissance is a multi-vintage wine. This voluntary use of reserve wines is also, for me, the symbol of greater creative freedom in this quest for the absolute.”

The new Champagne Charlie cuvée is made up of almost 80% reserve wines, with selected components aged on lees for up to 25 years. A blend of 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir, the blend also includes 20% wine from the 2016 vintage, cellared in 2017.

Who was Champagne Charlie?

Born June 17, 1822, Charles-Camille Heidsieck was a gentleman-entrepreneur with a taste for adventure. In 1852, he became the first owner of a Champagne House to visit United Statesmaking the trip four times in ten years.

He reinvented the champagne market in the mid-19th century by converting Americans to his cuvées, earning him legendary status across the Atlantic and the nickname “Champagne Charlie”.

Heir to Champagne, animated by a spirit of conquest and a taste for challenge, Charles-Camille was very comfortable in the audacious atmosphere of the 19th century. He was more than a celebrity or a character: the hugely popular jazz song “Champagne Charlie”, written by George Leybourne and released in 1858, made him a legend, bolstered more recently by several films and fictionalized biographies.

The authenticity and principles of the man nicknamed “Champagne Charlie” by the Americans have inspired the unique quality of his champagnes, kept in age-old Crayères. Five generations have succeeded at the head of the House, defending this first vision of a unique champagne of exceptional quality.

where to find it

Charlie Champagne and the Charles Heidsieck Portfolio are imported nationally by Folio Fine Wine Partners and will be available at fine wine outlets in September 2022 for USD $700 per bottle. As part of the Bicentenary celebrations, Charles Heidsieck will also release a special edition of its Brut Réserve Collector’s Edition, reimagined by the French artist Catherine Grandand will be available for purchase from August 2022.

For more information, interviews and resources, please contact Rebecca Hopkins via email at [email protected] or cell +1 7075928929.

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ABOUT CHARLES HEIDSIECK CHAMPAGNE:

Champagne Charles Heidsieck is one of the most respected Champagne houses, based in Reims, France. Founded in 1851, Champagne Charles Heidsieck is one of the few prestigious brands to bear the Grandes Marques distinction, and the first producer to bring Champagne to United States. Five generations have made the fortune of the House, carrying the initial vision of a champagne of extreme quality. Since 1851, the authenticity and conviction of the man nicknamed “Champagne Charlie” by the Americans have inspired the unique signature of his champagnes aged in the Maison’s chalk pits. Charles Heidsieck champagnes offer a unique blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, combined with more than 50% Charles Heidsieck mature reserve wines, and aged for an average of 10 years. Each bottle ages in chalk cellars for more than 3 years, up to 40 years for collection bottles. This maturation time is essential for the development of the aromatic complexity, silky texture and refined quality, typical of Charles Heidsieck champagnes.

Internationally acclaimed, Champagne Charles Heidsieck has been named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year thirteen times at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) and awarded numerous Grand Or, Best in Show, Trophies and Gold Medals during its illustrious story. Its acquisition in 2011 by Christofer Descours and the EPI group enabled Charles Heidsieck to bounce back quickly with a new and international ambition. You can connect with Charles Heidsieck online at http://www.charlesheidsieck.com and through social media:

Facebook: Champagne Charles Heidsieck

Instagram: @charlesheidsieckchampagne

LinkedIn: Charles Heidsieck

Youtube: Champagne Charles Heidsieck

Media Contact

Rebecca HopkinsCharles Heidsieck (US), 707.592.8929, [email protected]

SOURCECharles Heidsieck (USA)

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