Charles Springfield

Champagne Brand Ambassador – Rare Champagne & Piper Heidsieck

Despite not growing up in or near a wine region, wine has been a part of my life since I was very young. I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the Midwest. However, if you have ever seen a viral video of a baby in a highchair repeatedly reaching for their parent’s wine glass to sip on, that was me as a baby. It has been a life-long love affair between wine and me.

Professionally, I wouldn’t fall headfirst into the wine business until 2010. Before wine, I started my career as a general assignment newspaper reporter in New Orleans working at the “Times-Picayune” daily newspaper after graduating from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. My ambition and love of all things “lifestyle,” sent me back to college to obtain a master’s degree in public relations and helped me obtain a full-time position as an Assistant Entertainment/TV Book editor at the “Clarion-Ledger” newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi. Ultimately, I put my journalism experience and public relations degree paved the way for me to work for three full-service integrated marketing communications/advertising agencies and one public relations boutique agency focused on lifestyle brands in the consumer marketing divisions.

After moving to New York City, starting a small lifestyle marketing company and working part-time in an Upper West Side wine boutique, I fell in love with the concept of wine education and helping customers find the right wines for the right occasions. With a spirit of always learning and challenging myself, I studied to become a Certified Sommelier through the Sommelier Society of America in NYC. After completing the program in 2012, I launched an entrepreneurial wine practice focused on wine appreciation through education via wine classes, curated wine dinners, private and corporate events.

Now, I’m excited and honored to bring all that varied experience to Folio Fine Wine Partners to enhance the awareness of one of the world’s greatest Champagne Houses by serving as the New York Brand Ambassador for Piper-Heidsieck and Rare Champagnes.