175 Years of Excellence: Arthur Camut about Champagne Pol Roger

Champagne Pol Roger, founded in Épernay in 1849, is a Champagne house steeped in tradition and is considered one of the best and most exclusive houses in Champagne. It is one of the last independent and private cellars in the region and maintains the tradition and elegance for which it is famous. Champagne Pol Roger is still owned by the founding family and is now run by the fifth and sixth generations.

We spoke to Arthur Camut, Export Manager of Champagne Pol Roger. In the interview, he talks about the history and tradition of the house, the challenges and developments in recent years and the importance of the German market. He provides insights into the new production facility, the Vinothèque edition to mark the 175th anniversary and the collaboration with the Veritable Groupe in Germany.

Please introduce yourself briefly: Who are you and what do you do at Champagne Pol Roger?

Arthur Camut: My name is Arthur Camut, I am an Export Manager at Champagne Pol Roger.

Pol Roger celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2024. Take us back to the beginnings: How and where did the history of the champagne house begin?

Arthur Camut: Our Maison was founded by a gentleman named Pol Roger in 1849. He was not yet 18 years old when he decided to start making his own champagne. We celebrate this year our 175th anniversary.

What milestones has Pol Roger achieved to date?

Arthur Camut: There are so many stories linked with Champagne Pol Roger since 1849. Everything has always been done according to our three pillars.

• 100 % family: The company belongs to the Pol Roger family since its foundation in 1849 – with today members of the 5th and 6th generation.
• 100 % dedicated to the production of champagne, in order to focus exclusively on what the company does best.
• 100 % Epernay: Winery, Cellars, Production site, Warehouse, Offices … Everything is located at the heart of the city of Epernay. A unique model nowadays.

How is the champagne house currently positioned? How is the brand represented in Germany?

Arthur Camut: Pol Roger has a solid distribution with a presence in more than 100 countries. We are very proud to work very closely with a network of wonderful partners representing our brand and ensuring a distribution focusing in the on trade but also within a selection of the most premium wine retailers.

You work together with the Veritable Groupe in Germany. Why did you choose this partner?

Arthur Camut: Veritable Groupe in Germany is a benchmark within the top wine importers circle in Germany. The company represents fantastic brands and has a solid expertise in the distribution of fine wine in Germany. We are also very proud to work with talented people with who we share the same philosophy.

What products does the portfolio include? What are the special features of the products?

Arthur Camut: Germany being in the top 5 export markets for Champagne Pol Roger, it is of course very important to make sure all our 7 cuvees are available in the German market. Our three NV cuvees (Brut Reserve, Pure, Rich) and our 4 vintage cuvees (Blanc de Blancs Vintage, Brut Vintage, Rosé Vintage and Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill).

The limited Vinotheque edition is a very special one. Tell us about it!

Arthur Camut: To mark our 175th anniversary, our 4 vintage cuvées will now be offered as Vinothèque wines. It is not a brand new product but the opportunity to show how our wines can pass the test of time. Our idea is to show older wines that have remained in the Pol Roger cellars since their initial disgorgement and that have continued their ageing on cork in the very best possible conditions (no movements, no changes in temperature, low light and in one of Champagne’s deepest cellars, 33 meters below ground).

What we are releasing this year:

• Pol Roger Vinothèque Brut Vintage 2002 and 2000.
• Pol Roger Vinothèque Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2000
• Pol Roger Vinothèque Rosé Vintage 1999
• Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1999 and 1998

Being Vintages, they are by definition limited (not to say very limited) but the great news is that each year, the House will offer different vintages of each cuvée.

You have your new production facility, which was opened at the end of 2023 How has this changed the production of your products?

Arthur Camut: Vinification, tirage, bottle-ageing and hand riddling (remuage) for all our cuvees remain in operation at 34, avenue de Champagne and in the cellars beneath the Pol Roger buildings; but Disgorgement, labelling and dispatches moved to 7, rue Winston Churchill, a few hundred metres from the avenue de Champagne.

The works get under way in December 2019. A new forty-metre tunnel is excavated to assist the flow of wine in the cellars from the cuverie to the disgorgement and labelling facilities. The new building of today extends to 18,000 square metres, spread over four levels. It conforms to the rules set for Champagne within the worldwide patrimony of UNESCO, overseen by Les Bâtiments de France.

The new site will allow for a significant improvement in the working conditions of employees and enable the Maison to react more speedily when needed to the preparation of urgent orders. Great efforts have been made to satisfy environmental requirements.

There is a special exhibition about Pol Roger to mark the 175th anniversary. What can you experience there?

Arthur Camut: Since last June, an exhibition in the brand-new reception room has been retracing the history of the House through the main pillars of its identity: family, local roots and the exclusive production of Champagne wines. The history of the House is punctuated by major family and entrepreneurial milestones. To mark its 175th anniversary, Pol Roger wanted to showcase a number of archive items.

The exhibition includes the House’s first accounting register, dating from 1851. Visitors will also discover one of the letters sent by Louis Pasteur to Albert – Pol Roger’s brother – in the course of discussions to resolve problems of fermentation encountered during the production of the 1864 vintage. We also unveil many documents linked with the UK market such as the first and official order made by Sir Winston Churchill in 1908, the connection with the Royal Family etc.

We’ve talked about the past – but let’s also take a look into the future. What plans are there for Pol Roger – especially for the German market?

Arthur Camut: We are looking forward to continuing working very closely with Veritable, to ensure Pol Roger remains available for wine connoisseurs and all the Pol Roger aficionados in Germany.

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+++ We would like to thank Arthur Camut for the open and very interesting interview! If you also have an interesting brand, then we should talk. Just send us an e-mail with the subject “about-drinks interview” to redaktion@about-drinks.com – we look forward to hearing from you! +++