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Champagne Charlie: The Frenchman Who Taught Americans to Love Champagne
A New York Times Best Wine Book of 2021
Champagne Charlie tells the story of a dashing young Frenchman, Charles Heidsieck, who introduced hard-drinking Americans to champagne in the mid-nineteenth century and became famously known as Champagne Charlie. Ignoring critics who warned that America was a dangerous place to do business, Heidsieck plunged right in, considering it “the land of opportunity” and succeeding there beyond his wildest dreams. Those dreams, however, became a nightmare when the Civil War erupted and he was imprisoned and nearly executed after being charged with spying for the Confederacy.
Only after the Lincoln administration intervened was Heidsieck’s life saved, but his champagne business had gone bankrupt and was virtually dead. Then, miraculously, Heidsieck became owner of nearly half the city of Denver, the fastest-growing city in the West. By selling the land, Heidsieck was eventually able to resurrect his business to its former glory.
For all its current-day glamour, effervescence, and association with the high life, champagne had a lackluster start. It was pale red in color, insipid in taste, and completely flat. In fact, champagne-makers, including the legendary Dom Pérignon, fought strenuously to eliminate bubbles. Champagne’s success can be traced back to King Louis XV and his mistress Madame de Pompadour, Napoleon Bonaparte, countless wars and prohibitions, and, most important to the United States, Charles Heidsieck.
Champagne Charlie tells the history of champagne and the thrilling tale of how the go-to celebratory drink of our time made its way to the United States, thanks to the controversial figure of Heidsieck.
Champagne Charlie tells the story of a dashing young Frenchman, Charles Heidsieck, who introduced hard-drinking Americans to champagne in the mid-nineteenth century and became famously known as Champagne Charlie. Ignoring critics who warned that America was a dangerous place to do business, Heidsieck plunged right in, considering it “the land of opportunity” and succeeding there beyond his wildest dreams. Those dreams, however, became a nightmare when the Civil War erupted and he was imprisoned and nearly executed after being charged with spying for the Confederacy.
Only after the Lincoln administration intervened was Heidsieck’s life saved, but his champagne business had gone bankrupt and was virtually dead. Then, miraculously, Heidsieck became owner of nearly half the city of Denver, the fastest-growing city in the West. By selling the land, Heidsieck was eventually able to resurrect his business to its former glory.
For all its current-day glamour, effervescence, and association with the high life, champagne had a lackluster start. It was pale red in color, insipid in taste, and completely flat. In fact, champagne-makers, including the legendary Dom Pérignon, fought strenuously to eliminate bubbles. Champagne’s success can be traced back to King Louis XV and his mistress Madame de Pompadour, Napoleon Bonaparte, countless wars and prohibitions, and, most important to the United States, Charles Heidsieck.
Champagne Charlie tells the history of champagne and the thrilling tale of how the go-to celebratory drink of our time made its way to the United States, thanks to the controversial figure of Heidsieck.
Audio CD
Published February 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 31, 2022
The ending of this book ruins what was until then an entertaining and seemingly well-researched story about the champagne industry during the 1800's and the United States Civil War era, and in particular the travails of one producer, Charles Heidsieck. However, the authors' intellectual discipline breaks down with a melodramatic section about supposed present day global warming in the Champagne region of France. A cursory review of relevant trade publications reveals that during the period leading up to the pandemic, the champagne industry was enjoying historically high grape harvests. Vintners were reported as enjoying a warm growing season (similar to ones experienced in the past) and low interest rates. Whichever side one is on, it would have been best not to wade into this debate and just stick to the interesting main story instead of succumbing to political impulses by subjecting the reader to a present-day "the sky is falling" climate mantra.
June 22, 2022
Somewhat dry and mostly unpretentious. Notes of American history, enlightened thinking, and convivial effervescence delight throughout. Pairs well with actual drinking of Heidsieck champagne. Excellent accompaniment to easy evenings, lazy weekends, and all varieties of cheese.
January 9, 2023
A good weekend read involving interesting characters and history of the 1800's. The story begins with a young and eager Frenchman seeking to break into the enigmatic American market, one seen by all of Champagne's producers as holding massive opportunity but not until American's included fine wine into their social and dining cultures.
Charles Heidsieck was the Champagne first producer to make major inroades into the U.S. market. To achieve this enviable goal, he left behind his wife and family to run the operation and business side of the winery.
While in the U.S. in the mid 1800's he loathed slavery but became sympathetic to Southern hospitality and found himself aligned with them by the time the civil war broke out - an alliance made for business reasons and one that changed the trajectory of his life forever.
This book will appeal to history buffs as much as wine buffs. Based on a cache of letters discovered fairly recently, the historical research conducted by the authors and Charles' descendents is nicely woven together into a very good read.
Charles Heidsieck was the Champagne first producer to make major inroades into the U.S. market. To achieve this enviable goal, he left behind his wife and family to run the operation and business side of the winery.
While in the U.S. in the mid 1800's he loathed slavery but became sympathetic to Southern hospitality and found himself aligned with them by the time the civil war broke out - an alliance made for business reasons and one that changed the trajectory of his life forever.
This book will appeal to history buffs as much as wine buffs. Based on a cache of letters discovered fairly recently, the historical research conducted by the authors and Charles' descendents is nicely woven together into a very good read.
March 16, 2023
Lacking the interesting style needed to make it's titular character compelling, Champagne Charlie seems confused on if it wants to about one more or an entire country. There are multiple sections where the book wanders away from the main character's story, and I found almost all of those sections more thought-provoking than the main plot. I still enjoyed some parts of it, as evidenced by the fact that I finished it, but I can't even think of who I would recommend this to.
You would think it would describe the process of making and distributing champagne in a captivating, and maybe even whimsical way, but instead, all of the details of how Charlie made, distributed, and marketed his product are told in a business-like manor that fails to hook in even people who like champagne.
You would think it would describe the process of making and distributing champagne in a captivating, and maybe even whimsical way, but instead, all of the details of how Charlie made, distributed, and marketed his product are told in a business-like manor that fails to hook in even people who like champagne.
August 18, 2022
An enjoyable book for those interested in wine and (its intersection with) history. It covers the origins of the champagne house of Charles Heidseick and Heidseick's popularization of the product in America. The narrative here is incredibly gripping and reads like an adventure novel - covering Charles's travels through upper class American society, imprisonment in the south during the civil war, and eventual redemption via the gold rush. This is a wonderful story of travel, adventure, and pursuing dreams into new terrain. My only quibble is that at times it goes deeper into adjacent history (e.g. Civil War details) than is really warranted given those areas aren't really the book's focus.
February 19, 2022
I loved this book. A fascinating story related in an engaging and thoughtful way. Covered much history not just the biography of Charlie Heidsiek. It brought the chaos of war, the excitement of travel, and the longings for home to life. There were a few sections that seemed to repeat information I had just read a page or two earlier. This book is highly recommended, not just for champagne lovers, but for anyone interested in history.
January 3, 2023
A fascinating story not only about a champagne entrepreneur and the struggles he faced with his burgeoning business, but also about 19th century history in both France and the US (maybe more than necessary), and how events (e.g., Civil War, Franco-Prussian War, westward expansion to Denver). How he maintained a family through all of that turmoil is incredible.
April 24, 2025
About a third through this "tribute" I decided this man wasn't deserving of a biography. Champagne Charlie was an inept businessman, naive traveling merchant and irresponsible husband and father. The book should have been written about his wife, Amelie, who was the mother of their five children and put up with the financial and personal disasters Charlie created over their long marriage.
April 16, 2022
A great story of persistence, success, failure, and tragedy. Not only do we learn about Heidsieck's adventures in America, but the places and events that impacted his adventure amidst the American Civil War.
April 5, 2022
Interesting story. Leans heavily on Champagne Charlie's letters, but those are very detailed and the story takes a big turn at the U.S. Civil War. Charlie really had to struggle through a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews