In Reims, the butte Saint-Nicaise has been home to many Champagne Houses. Not because the vines grow better there, but particularly for its subsoil, which abounds in chalk pits.
Rediscovered in the Middle Ages and used as shelters during the Great War, the Romans dug nearly 300 of them, and in 1867 Charles Heidsieck bought 47 of them to make and store his wines. With a hygrometry level of 90% and a constant temperature of around 11 degrees, these chalk pits offer all the qualities required for Champagne wines to flourish.
"Take your time" is one of the leitmotifs of the Charles Heidsieck House. Rediscovering the precious time that goes into making Champagne wines, in order to obtain their quintessence. The ephemerality of the tasting moment must leave its mark, as must the joy and tradition of passing on, between oenologists, the know-how and typicity of the House's wines.
The Rémois drink " Charles", as they say. as they say, not out of snobbery but because " it's a safe bet and you're never disappointed!
In 1852, at the age of 29, Charles Heidsieck was the 1st Champagne producer to travel to the United States to market his wines. Such was his success that he sold up to 300,000 bottles. He also fell in love with Louisiana. The tumultuous American Civil War, led by General Butler, who disliked the French, saw him imprisoned until 1860. Released thanks to the intervention of President Lincoln, he returned to France broke, having suffered the wrath of his fraudulent importer who had got hold of his stock.
The solidarity of the Champagne houses and families at the time enabled him to continue making and marketing his wines, and what's more, to recover financial compensation in "land equivalent" for the damage suffered in the US (he was compensated for land representing 1/3 of the city of Denver, which he later sold), and finally to buy these famous Crayères in 1867.
As a tribute, out of respect and tradition, each of his descendants was named "Charles" until 1985. Perhaps some of you will remember the famous film "Champagne Charlie" , directed by Allan Eastman in 1989 and starring Hugh Grant, a veritable biopic of Charles Heidsieck and his success in the USA.
Sleeping Beauty" during the Remi Cointreau era, from 1985 to 2011, the house will produce 300,000 bottles.
Unfortunately, visits to the cellars are not open to the general public (for safety, structural and access reasons).
More information about the house and its cuvées :