June 16

June 16, 1822: Charles Camille Heidsieck was born. Charles Heidsieck was a French Champagne businessman who created a company in 1851. He popularized Champagne in the U.S. to the point where he earned the moniker “Champagne Charlie.” Heidsieck was imprisoned during the American Civil War on suspicion of being a spy for both the French government and the Confederacy. His detention triggered an international controversy known as The Heidsieck Incident between France and the United States. He passed away on 3 February 1893.

June 16, 1952: René Bernard Renou was born. Renou presided as the president of the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine, the French appellation system. His plans to reform the system to benefit the consumer were met with fierce opposition and protection of the status quo. Renou was selected Man of the Year by Bettane Desseauve in 2005. He was a Commander in the Ordre du Mérite Agricole and a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. He died on 19 June 2006.

June 16, 1955: The first official classification of Saint-Emilion wines was published, establishing the Grand Cru Classe and Premier Grand Cru Classe rankings.

For more dates in wine history, click here.

Header image: Jpduburcq — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).