At A Glance
- Base
- Reims
- Region
- Champagne, France
- Founded
- 1851
- Signature wine
- Blanc des Millénaires
- Defining feature
- Gallo Roman chalk cellars
The Producer
Charles Heidsieck founded the house at age 29. It is based in Reims, and its cellars are old chalk quarries called crayères, acquired to create conditions for wine maturation. The house has belonged to the EPI group since 2011.
The range includes Brut Réserve and Blanc des Millénaires. The first draws on many crus, while the second is made entirely from Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs.
Place
The maison is based in Reims, in the Champagne region of France. Its crayères are underground chalk cellars dating from Roman Gaul. Underground chalk provides dark, steady conditions for the slow maturation of sparkling wine.
The cellars are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List alongside other Champagne vineyards, houses and cellars.
Story
In 1852, Charles Heidsieck travelled to the United States and became the first merchant to market his own champagne there. He established an importing firm in New York City. In America, people embraced his charismatic personality and called him Champagne Charlie. By 1861, he had surpassed his goal of selling 300,000 bottles overseas.
Wines
Brut Réserve uses almost 60 different crus in its blend. In Champagne, a cru is a classified vineyard area, so this figure counts the vineyard sources assembled in one cuvée. A broad source base can help a house combine wines from several classified areas.
Blanc des Millénaires is 100% Chardonnay from five crus in the Côte des Blancs, with equal portions from each. Chardonnay in sparkling wine commonly brings citrus aromas and firm acidity, while the cuvée's single grape variety keeps its composition clear.
Final Word
Charles Heidsieck is a Reims house with a United States market history and chalk crayères used for wine maturation. Its range includes Brut Réserve and the Chardonnay Blanc des Millénaires.