News

  • Le Conseil de Surveillance de Pol Roger & Cie se renforce Champagne Pol Roger
    8 July 2024

    Le Conseil de Surveillance de Pol Roger & Cie se renforce

  • Pol Roger inaugurates new production site  Champagne Pol Roger
    19 April 2024

    Pol Roger inaugurates new production site

  • Maison Pol Roger announces the launch of its newest cuvée, the Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    3 April 2024

    Maison Pol Roger announces the launch of its newest cuvée, the Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2018

  • Pol Roger and Joanne PremieR team up for the French market Champagne Pol Roger
    1 January 2024

    Pol Roger and Joanne PremieR team up for the French market

  • Champagne Pol Roger is delighted to introduce the 21st vintage
of its tribute cuvee, since its creation in 1975. Champagne Pol Roger
    20 April 2023

    Champagne Pol Roger is delighted to introduce the 21st vintage of its tribute cuvee, since its creation in 1975.

  • Maison Pol Roger pays homage to Christian de Billy Champagne Pol Roger
    30 August 2022

    Maison Pol Roger pays homage to Christian de Billy

  • Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant  Champagne Pol Roger
    29 June 2022

    Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant

  • The Primum Familiae Vini prize of 2021 winner is Maison Bernard in Belgium, Europe's oldest luthier workshop Champagne Pol Roger
    22 March 2021

    The Primum Familiae Vini prize of 2021 winner is Maison Bernard in Belgium, Europe's oldest luthier workshop

  • An Open Passport to Visit Twelve of the Finest Wine Producing Families in Europe To be Offered at Sotheby's Champagne Pol Roger
    12 March 2021

    An Open Passport to Visit Twelve of the Finest Wine Producing Families in Europe To be Offered at Sotheby's

  • Five extraordinary family companies nominated for €100,000 PFV Prize of 2021 Champagne Pol Roger
    28 January 2021

    Five extraordinary family companies nominated for €100,000 PFV Prize of 2021

  • 2020 Year in review Champagne Pol Roger
    30 December 2020

    2020 Year in review

  • Champagne Pol Roger welcomes Bastien Collard de Billy as General Secretary Champagne Pol Roger
    30 November 2020

    Champagne Pol Roger welcomes Bastien Collard de Billy as General Secretary

  • Primum Familiae Vini launch €100,000 annual prize Champagne Pol Roger
    17 July 2020

    Primum Familiae Vini launch €100,000 annual prize

  • October - November

    TASTING OF THE RETRIEVED BOTTLES

  • The "Habits de Lumière" from December 13th to 15th, 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    2 November 2019

    The "Habits de Lumière" from December 13th to 15th, 2019

  • June 16th 2019

    Pol Roger Austrian Polo Open 2019

  • International blind tasting final - June 21st 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    24 June 2019

    International blind tasting final - June 21st 2019

  • VINEXPO - May 13th to 16th 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    30 April 2019

    VINEXPO - May 13th to 16th 2019

  • Blind tasting organized by Pol Roger in Austria - April 3rd 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    9 April 2019

    Blind tasting organized by Pol Roger in Austria - April 3rd 2019

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - March 15th 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    21 March 2019

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - March 15th 2019

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 15th 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    4 March 2019

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 15th 2019

  • PROWEIN Düsseldorf - March 17th to 19th 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    14 February 2019

    PROWEIN Düsseldorf - March 17th to 19th 2019

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 7th 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    11 February 2019

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 7th 2019

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 31st 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    4 February 2019

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 31st 2019

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 25th 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    28 January 2019

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 25th 2019

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 11th 2019 Champagne Pol Roger
    14 January 2019

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 11th 2019

  • The "Habits de Lumière" from December 14th to 16th, 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    6 November 2018

    The "Habits de Lumière" from December 14th to 16th, 2018

  • Pol Roger Pol Cup 2018  Champagne Pol Roger
    13 June 2018

    Pol Roger Pol Cup 2018

  • International blind tasting final - June 1st 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    8 June 2018

    International blind tasting final - June 1st 2018

  • Damien Cambres succeeds Dominique Petit as cellar master of Champagne Pol Roger
 Champagne Pol Roger
    9 April 2018

    Damien Cambres succeeds Dominique Petit as cellar master of Champagne Pol Roger

  • Blind tasting organized by Pol Roger in Austria - March 28th 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    6 April 2018

    Blind tasting organized by Pol Roger in Austria - March 28th 2018

  • Blind tasting match - French final - March 9th 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    12 March 2018

    Blind tasting match - French final - March 9th 2018

  • 118 years later, the dream comes true... Champagne Pol Roger
    14 February 2018

    118 years later, the dream comes true...

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 8th 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    13 February 2018

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 8th 2018

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 1st 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    5 February 2018

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 1st 2018

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 26th 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    29 January 2018

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 26th 2018

  • POL ROGER & Cie S.A. becomes a sponsor for the Museum of Champagne Wine and Regional Archeology of Epernay Champagne Pol Roger
    26 January 2018

    POL ROGER & Cie S.A. becomes a sponsor for the Museum of Champagne Wine and Regional Archeology of Epernay

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 19th 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    23 January 2018

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 19th 2018

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 12th 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    15 January 2018

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 12th 2018

  • Best wishes for 2018 Champagne Pol Roger
    29 December 2017

    Best wishes for 2018

  • The "Habits de Lumière" from December 8th to 10th, 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    4 December 2017

    The "Habits de Lumière" from December 8th to 10th, 2017

  • Champagne Pol Roger released Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006 Champagne Pol Roger
    2 October 2017

    Champagne Pol Roger released Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006

  • Pol Roger Cup 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    15 June 2017

    Pol Roger Cup 2017

  • VINEXPO - June 18th to 21st 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    14 June 2017

    VINEXPO - June 18th to 21st 2017

  • International blind tasting final Champagne Pol Roger
    29 May 2017

    International blind tasting final

  • Blind tasting organized by in Austria - March 29th 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    18 April 2017

    Blind tasting organized by in Austria - March 29th 2017

  • Blind tasting match - French final - March 27th 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    31 March 2017

    Blind tasting match - French final - March 27th 2017

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 10th 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    15 February 2017

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - February 10th 2017

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 29th 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    1 February 2017

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 29th 2017

  • Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 20th 2017 Champagne Pol Roger
    25 January 2017

    Blind tasting match between the most prestigious French schools and universities - January 20th 2017

22 February 2013

60 years of the Oxford vs. Cambridge University Blind Wine-Tasting Competition

The 21st February 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the Oxford vs. Cambridge University Varsity Blind Wine-Tasting Match.
This year, to celebrate what has become an iconic rivalry, the sponsor, Champagne Pol Roger, arranged to hold a simultaneous tasting pitting the Wine Trade against the Wine Press. Teams of seven each from Oxford University, Cambridge University, the Press and the Trade were challenged to taste and identify the same flight of 6 white, followed by 6 red wines, in exam conditions.
In honour of this momentous anniversary Pol Roger set out to deliver the definitive Blind Wine-Tasting Competition with a number of the most celebrated wine producers submitting their top wines for this tasting.
The wines were:

Whites:
- Vouvray, Clos de Bourg, Sec, Gaston Huët, 2011
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, Beaucastel, 2011
- Le Montrachet, Marquis de Laguiche, Joseph Drouhin, 2008
- Egon Müller, Scharzhofberger, Auslese, 1987
- Condrieu, Coteau du Vernon, Domaine Georges Vernay, 2010
- Chateau Climens, Barsac, 2004

Reds:
- Saumur - Champigny, Clos Rougeard, Les Poyeaux, 2006
- Vosne -Romanée, 1er Cru, Aux Malconsorts, Dujac, 2006
- Brunello di Montalcino, Riserva, Biondi-Santi, 2006
- Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac- Léognan, 1995
- Vega Sicilia, Unico, 1953
- Kongsgaard Syrah, Hudson Vineyard, 2009

We are pleased to announce that in a closely fought contest Oxford emerged victorious, taking the running total to 37 victories for Oxford vs 23 for Cambridge. The winning team will enjoy a trip to Maison Pol Roger in Epernay in the summer.
In an equally competitive match, the Wine Trade against the Wine Press, both teams put in a valiant performance. In this unprecedented competition an impressive 5 Masters of Wine and 2 Master Sommeliers from the Wine Trade faced an equally noteworthy Press team, boasting the foremost names of wine journalism. In the end the The Trade narrowly triumphed, with an impressive performance from Anthony Rose who was crowned the Top Taster. The teams were as follows:
Presse:
- Will Lyons - Wall Street Journal
- Oz Clarke
- Joe Wadsack
- Peter Richards MW
- Anthony Rose - Independent
- Matthew Jukes - Daily Mail
- Michael Schuster

Profession:
- Jasper Morris MW
- Arabella Morris MW
- Jon Pedley MW
- Alex Hunt MW
- Gearoid Devaney MS
- Christopher Delalonde MS
- Catriona Felstead MW

The judges for this historic event were Jancis Robinson OBE MW and Hugh Johnson OBE for the Varsity match and Anthony Hanson MW and Sebastien Payne MW for the Press vs. Trade match.
For lunch guests were served Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2002 en Magnum, Josmeyer Riesling Grand Cru Hengst 2008, Maison Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge 1999, in Methuselah, Château Nairac Barsac 2001 and finally, to mark the 60th anniversary of the match, Hine Grande Champagne 1953 Single Family Cask.
Following the 60th match, all previous blind tasters will be invited to a 60th anniversary reunion, held at Bonhams on February 26th; an occasion to honour this long-standing rivalry.
Started in 1953 by the legendary Harry Waugh, at the time working for John Harvey & Sons, the competition sponsorship was taken over by Pol Roger in 1992. It is a competition which has cultivated many wine press, wine trade as well as fine wine enthusiasts across the world and seen the practice of blind wine-tasting acknowledged as a worthy academic practice.
The fascinating history of this competition has now been documented in a stylishly informative and entertaining book, detailing the inception and evolution of the Varsity Blind Wine-Tasting Match through a collection of oral histories. Pol Roger Ltd, in conjunction with Anova book publishers, are pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of ‘Reds, Whites & Varsity Blues: 60 Years of the Oxford & Cambridge Blind Wine-Tasting Competition', produced and edited by Jennifer Segal, in spring 2013. Notable contributors include Robert Parker, Michael Broadbent MW, Julian Jeffs QC, Hugh Johnson OBE, Jancis Robinson OBE, MW, Oz Clarke, Will Lyons, David Peppercorn MW, Serena Sutcliffe MW, Charles Metcalfe, Jasper Morris MW, Arabella Woodrow MW and many more.
Notes to Editors:
Champagne Pol Roger has been producing exceptional champagne for over 160 years. To this day the house remains small, family-owned, fiercely independent and unrivalled in its reputation for quality. Indeed, it is this quality which brought about Sir Winston Churchill's lifelong attachment to Pol Roger, who famously insisted "In defeat I need it, in victory I deserve it".
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