Pol Roger - that is a sonorous name and undoubtedly one of the most famous of all Champagne houses. And while quite a few of the well-known and esteemed houses have long since joined stock corporations or luxury groups, Pol Roger is still firmly in family hands today. In 1843, Pol Roger entered the wine business after the early death of his father and founded the Pol Roger Champagne House in 1849.
The first Champagnes under this name came on the market in 1853. Pol Roger proved to have a fine nose for the public's taste when he realised that the future belonged to rather dry, less highly dosed Champagnes. And he romped onto the English market early on, because the island was in the greatest Champagne mood at the time. Thus, in the 20th century, Sir Winston Churchill also became aware of Pol Roger. He began to appreciate this Champagne and not only chose it as his favourite, but also named his horse after the Champagne house. Pol Roger created a monument to this bond, which lasted for many years, with the remarkable prestige cuvée "Sir Winston Churchill".
Today, Pol Roger cultivates about 92 hectares of vineyards in the best Grand Cru sites, which in turn cover about half of the grape requirements of the house. Seven different cuvées are on offer in various varietal compositions: three without vintage, four with vintage.
The absolute top among the Champagnes with vintage is the "Sir Winston Churchill" cuvée, certainly one of the best premium cuvées in the region. There is no place for haste at Pol Roger. The cuvées without a vintage are allowed to age on the lees for four years, which is rather unusual in Champagne; "Sir Winston Churchill" is launched on the market after eleven years.
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