Pol Roger
Pol Roger is a Négociant-Maison from Épernay, founded in 1849 by Pol Roger, then 18 years old. Since November 2020, Bastien Collard de Billy represents the 6th generation of the family; management has been led since June 2013 by Laurent d'Harcourt as Président du directoire. The Maison celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2024.
The company manages 92 hectares of vineyard and is closely connected with Winston Churchill: Odette Pol-Roger, wife of Jacques (3rd generation), befriended Churchill in 1940; he later called Pol Roger "the most delicious address in the world." In 1975, the Maison created Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill in his honor.
History
Pol Roger sold his first batch of wine to a négociant in Aÿ on January 2, 1849. Two years later, in 1851, the Maison moved from Aÿ to Épernay, where it still resides today, in a 19th-century family house on what is now Rue Henri Le Large (formerly Rue Winston Churchill), which was comprehensively renovated between 2011 and 2013.
Early on, Pol Roger oriented himself toward English taste: From 1855, he preferentially produced Brut champagnes, still unusual at the time. After his death in 1899, his sons Maurice and Georges took over management. A year later, on February 23, 1900, catastrophe struck the Maison: Part of the cellars and buildings collapsed, 500 barrels and 1.5 million bottles were lost. That same year, Maurice and Georges changed their surname to Pol-Roger to honor their father.
Maurice Pol-Roger was elected mayor of Épernay in 1912 and led the city with prudence during the German occupation in World War I. In 1927, his son Jacques joined the company (3rd generation). Jacques' wife Odette established the historic friendship with Winston Churchill in 1940, which sustainably shaped the Maison's image. By 1955, Pol Roger was for Churchill "the most delicious address in the world"; sales figures rose significantly.
Important innovations began in the 1960s: In 1961, the Maison launched Rosé Vintage, and in the late 60s, Blanc de Blancs Vintage followed. In 1975, Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill was born, initially only in Magnum, inaugurated at Blenheim Palace. In 1988, Hubert de Billy (5th generation) joined management as sales manager for France. In 1998, the USA became the most important export market.
In 2001, Pol Roger brought Cuvée Rich (Demi-sec) to market and redesigned the logo and bottle design. In 2007, Cuvée Pure (Extra Brut) followed, and the vignoble grew from 85 hectares (1999) to 92 hectares. Between 2001 and 2011, the Maison modernized the entire production facility under Chef de Caves Dominique Petit. In April 2018, Damien Cambres took over as Chef de Caves.
Since January 2019, Véronique Collard de Billy has led the supervisory board, supported by Christian de Billy as vice president. In November 2020, Bastien Collard de Billy joined as the first representative of the 6th generation and is today general secretary of the Maison.
Vignoble & Terroir
Pol Roger manages 92 hectares of vineyard. The Maison has its origins in Aÿ in the Vallée de la Marne, but has been based in Épernay since 1851. Specific details about the villages and plots farmed, as well as grape variety distribution, are not available.
Vinification
Between 2001 and 2011, Pol Roger rebuilt the entire production facility, with the goal of achieving the highest quality and consistency. Under Chef de Caves Dominique Petit (until 2018), the equipment was completely transformed. Since April 2018, Damien Cambres has been responsible for cellar work. Further details about barrel types, malolactic fermentation, or dosage philosophy are not documented.
The Cuvées in Detail
Réserve Brut
the_champagne.guy Am 12. Dezember hatte ich diesen Champagner schon einmal – damals mitten in der Weihnachtszeit, begleitet von Marzipan und Schokolade. Das Pairing war festlich, aber der Champagner wirkte betont mineralisch – möglicherweise eine Wechselwirkung mit der Süße der Snacks. ✨ Heute also ein neuer Versuch – ohne süße Ablenkung, aber mit viel Platz im Glas! 🔹 Glaswahl: Für diese Runde habe ich mich bewusst für die @riedel_official Wine Wings Champagner-Gläser entschieden. Sie sind groß, fast schon imposant, aber genau das war der Plan – dem @champagnepolroger Réserve Raum geben, um sich voll zu entfalten. 🔹 Das Ergebnis? 💡 Deutlich fruchtiger, mehr gelber Apfel & Birne 💡 Die Süße kam stärker durch – fast cremig am Gaumen 💡 Die Mineralik war weiterhin da, aber wunderbar eingebunden 🥂 Fazit: Der gleiche Champagner – und doch eine völlig neue Wahrnehmung! Das richtige Glas macht eben einen Unterschied. Der Pol Roger zeigte sich heute harmonischer, runder und eleganter als noch im Dezember. Habt ihr schon einmal erlebt, wie stark ein Glas die Wahrnehmung eines Champagners verändert? Oder bleibt ihr immer bei eurem Lieblingsglas? #TheChampagneGuy #PolRoger #RiedelWineWings #ChampagnerGenuss #NewExperience #GlassMatters #ChampagneExperiment
Auf Instagram weiterlesen →
the_champagne.guy Die Adventssonntage haben für mich eine ganz besondere Tradition: Am Abend sitzen wir als Familie zusammen und genießen die ruhige Adventsstimmung mit einem festlich gedeckten Adventsteller. Gefüllt mit selbstgebackenen Keksen, saftigen Mandarinen, Schokonikoläusen, Marzipankartoffeln und vielem mehr – einfach gemütlich und typisch Advent! 🎄❤️ Passend dazu habe ich mich am 2. Advent für den @champagnepolroger Brut Réserve entschieden. Dieser Champagner mit seinen eleganten Aromen von weißem Obst, Zitrusfrüchten und einem Hauch von Brioche ergänzt perfekt die Vielfalt auf unserem Teller. 🥂 Für mich ist das die perfekte Kombination aus Genuss und Besinnlichkeit – und ein schöner Moment, den ich jedes Jahr aufs Neue genieße. ✨ 🥂🍾 #2Advent #ChampagnerMomente #TheChampagneGuy #PolRoger #Familienzeit #Adventstradition #GenussPur #ChampagneLover #Adventsabend #Festtagsgenuss
Auf Instagram weiterlesen →The Maison's base cuvée shows aromas of yellow apple, pear, white fruit, citrus fruits, and brioche. Creamy on the palate, with well-integrated minerality, harmonious and round.
Pure Brut Nature
Launched in 2007 as an Extra-Brut variant with zero dosage, a response to growing demand for undosed champagne.
0 g/l Dosage · Brut Nature
Rich Demi-sec
In the range since 2001, as a sweeter version for the modern palate.
Demi-sec
Brut Vintage
The Maison's classic vintage champagne, produced only in selected years.
Millésimé · Brut
Blanc de Blancs Vintage
Pure Chardonnay champagne, launched in the late 1960s. Only in selected vintages.
100% Chardonnay · Millésimé
Rosé Vintage
In the range since 1961, one of Champagne's early vintage rosés.
Millésimé · Rosé
Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Brut Vintage
The Maison's prestige cuvée, born in 1975, inaugurated at Blenheim Palace. Originally bottled only in Magnum, a tribute to the British Prime Minister who declared Pol Roger "the most delicious address in the world."
Millésimé · Brut
Édition Vinothèque Brut Vintage
Extended cellar aging for selected vintages, the Vinothèque line offers particularly aged bottlings of the classic cuvées.
Millésimé · Brut
Édition Vinothèque Rosé Vintage
Rosé version of the Vinothèque line, with significantly longer aging than the regular Rosé Vintage.
Millésimé · Rosé
Édition Vinothèque Blanc de Blancs
Chardonnay prestige bottling with extended cellar aging.
100% Chardonnay · Millésimé
Édition Vinothèque Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill
The long-aged version of the prestige cuvée, for special occasions and collectors.
Millésimé · Brut
My Tastings
- Réserve · March 21, 2025
- Brut Réserve · December 12, 2024
Facts
| Maison | Pol Roger |
| Category | NM (Négociant-Manipulant) |
| Founded | 1849 |
| Founder | Pol Roger |
| Generation | 6th generation since 2020 |
| Management | Laurent d'Harcourt (Président du directoire) |
| Supervisory Board | Véronique Collard de Billy (President since 2019) |
| Chef de Caves | Damien Cambres (since April 2018) |
| Location | 1 Rue Henri Le Large, 51200 Épernay |
| Vignoble | 92 hectares |
| Anniversary | 175 years in 2024 |
| Website | polroger.com |
| @champagnepolroger · 16,844 followers | |
| Phone | +33 3 26 59 58 00 |
| polroger@polroger.fr |
Sources for this portrait: Maison website, my own tastings, CRM data and cross-checks. Fields without sufficient verification remain open.