We only work with the very best suppliers at Cubitt House and our wine lists are no exception. We work with people we know and trust to ensure our guests get only the very best. Charles Heidsieck is one of those who also have a fascinating history to share.
“Charles Heidsieck stands as our House champagne for its distinctively generous style, full of stone fruit and brioche. Here we look at a small production coming from only the best 1er Crus and Grand Crus vineyards around Reims” – Charles Beani, Head of Wine, Cubitt House
To learn a little more about this incredible story we caught up with Francesca D’Albertanson from Charles to ask her a few questions.
What is so special about the champagne?
Charles Heidsieck’s champagnes are special for so many reasons, but its rich, colourful, and unique history of the founder, Charles-Camille Heidsieck is perhaps the greatest reason of all! It was all thanks to him, the original “Champagne Charlie” and his adventures and flair, that led to the purchase of the 2000 year old Crayeres deep under the city of Reims. These 30m deep chalk cellars were hand dug by the Romans and now boast UNESCO heritage protection – and form an important pillar of the famous “Charles” style. The NV Brut Reserve undergoes a long and slow maturation for 3-4 years in the crayeres, much longer than the minimum required 15 months, giving it the generous, silky texture that makes the Brut Reserve so delicious, and in my opinion one of the best value champagnes on the market!
What is your favourite and why?
This is like asking you to choose your favourite child or pet, impossible. But that’s not to say you don’t like one more than the other on some days! What I love most about Charles Heidsieck is that there is a cuvee for each occasion. Beautiful summer day, I reach for a chilled and refreshing glass of Blanc de Blancs or Rose Reserve, but now that Autumn is well under way I love to return to a glass of Non Vintage Brut which feels like a hug in a glass and pairs so brilliantly with so many big food flavours like one of my favourite guilty pleasures, fish & chips!
We are proud to work with suppliers who value sustainable and high welfare practices can you tell me how Charles Heidsieck employ these types of practices in what they do?
Charles Heidsieck is very proud to have been the first Champagne House (alongside EPI stablemates Piper Heidsieck and Rare Champagne) to become B-Corp Certified; and we take this certification very seriously. Charles Heidsieck is committed to improving both its social and environmental impact on the planet, and aim to achieve this through various initiatives such as reducing the carbon footprint of each individual bottle by -46% by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We also follow sustainable practices in the vineyard and have boasted the “Sustainable Viticulture” label with “High Environmental Value” since 2015; using no pesticides or chemicals, and encouraging biodiversity amongst our vines. We recently installed eight beehives at our Pavilion who have become delightful neighbours!
You can enjoy Charles Heidsieck champagne at all our pubs and this New Year we are having a New Year’s Eve to remember at The Barley Mow, Mayfair. A fantastic 3 course menu, live music and a lot of Charles Heidsieck champagne, of course!
Book Here
