by James Dossan

Pol Roger, founded in 1849 in Épernay, is one of Champagne’s most respected houses, known for its elegance, balance, and deep ties to Britain. Still family-owned, Pol Roger has long been admired for producing wines that embody finesse and richness in equal measure. Its relationship with the United Kingdom dates back to the 19th century when it received a royal warrant in 1877, but it was in the 20th century that this connection reached legendary status — through Sir Winston Churchill.

The friendship between Winston Churchill and the Pol Roger family began during a luncheon in Paris in November 1944. Hosted by the British ambassador, Duff Cooper, it was here that Churchill was seated next to Odette Pol-Roger. The two formed an immediate bond, one rooted in mutual admiration and a shared love of fine Champagne. Churchill had been a fan of the house for years, but this meeting cemented a lifelong friendship that continued until his death. He was so fond of Pol Roger that he named one of his racehorses after the house — and when it won at Kempton Park in 1953, the connection became the stuff of legend. Churchill famously declared Pol Roger “the most drinkable address in the world,” and following his death in 1965, the house released its bottles in the UK with black-bordered labels as a sign of mourning and respect.