Charles Heidsieck, the Champagne producer, said it is sending its newest releases to the U.S. by sailboat. Featuring a cargo of a limited number of prestigious bottles, the historic journey celebrates the bicentennial of the House’s Founder, Charles-Camille Heidsieck, and will sail across the Atlantic to arrive in New York, following the journey that Charles himself took in 1852.
The sailboat launches from the port of Saint-Malo, Brittany, arriving in New York in time to celebrate Charles’ 200th birth date on June 17. The shipment has been entrusted to French sail company, Grain de Sail, for a transatlantic crossing on board its cargo sailboat – the first modern, regulated, merchant shipping cargo sailboat in the world – truly following in Charles’ footsteps, who made his own crossings by sea. The journey can be followed at Follow the journey on the Grain de Sail home page, https://graindesailwines.com/
For Charles Heidsieck’s Managing Director, Stephen Leroux, the partnership reflects the House’s tribute and commitment to the Founder’s sense of adventure: “Transport by sea is an integral part of our history: that is how Charles Heidsieck supplied the American market. Charles personally chose the US as his first market, back in 1852.
“To celebrate our 200 years of adventure, we are paying tribute to our Founder’s travels to the United States in our own way: taking our – slow – time, in a daring and entrepreneurial approach, and innovative spirit,” Stephen said.
The House has held a long connection to sailing, with several racing boats bearing the Charles Heidsieck name in global races in the 70s and 80s, including ‘Charles Heidsieck III’, especially designed for the most extraordinary international race. This great monohull sailed the Whitbread Round the World Race from August 1981 to March 1982.
The Charles Heidsieck portfolio is imported nationally by Folio Fine Wine Partners.