Champagne Pol Roger

Champagne Pol Roger is a prominent Champagne producer based in Epernay. It is known for its elegant, balanced house style made from equal proportions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and for its close affiliation with British wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill. The house's top cuvée is named for him.

The house was officially established in 1849, although at least two generations had been involved in the growing Champagne industry before Pol Roger began to make and sell his wine. In the mid-1850s, export became a key focus and the house began to eschew the traditional sweetness of Champagne, producing a drier style that was more in line with British tastes. The house grew throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, remaining strong throughout the period of American Prohibition and the Russian Revolution. Today, Pol Roger produces around 1.8 million bottles a year.

Pol Roger grows just over half of its grapes on its 89 hectares (220 acres) of estate vineyards, with the rest supplied by contract growers with whom the company has long-term relationships. Everything is done by hand in the winery and Pol Roger is home to the largest remuage team in Champagne, as well as some of the deepest cellars in Epernay. The winery has had considerable investment in the last ten years.

The Pol Roger range includes a non vintage brut, a vintage brut, a demi sec, a brut nature, a rosé and a blanc de blancs as well as the Sir Winston Churchill, which is only made in the best years. The latter was established in 1975 to honor the great man, who had been close friends with Odette Pol Roger as well as a big fan of the Champagne itself. The blend used in the Sir Winston Churchill cuvée is a closely guarded secret but is dominated by Pinot Noir for structure and strength and finished with Chardonnay for its elegance.