When guests clink glasses in honor of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s nuptials on Friday, they’ll be sipping on Pol Roger bubbly, a champagne maker with a long history of serving British aristocracy.

According to UK wine magazine Decanter, they have it “on the highest authority” that the couple has chosen the family-owned winery to be the official champagne provider at their wedding. They also specifically requested a non-vintage.

Three hundred guests will toast with the champagne bubbly right before the sit-down meal hosted by Prince Charles, the magazine reports.

Pol Roger began in 1849 in Epernay, France and quickly grew a reputation for its Brut Champagne, favored among British drinkers. Great Britain would go on to become their premier export market.

One of their biggest endorsements came from Sir Winston Churchill who became a loyal fan in 1908 until his death in 1965.

So close was his relationship with the family that, on his death, Pol Roger put black-bordered labels on the bottles destined for the UK.

In 1984, the winery created a wine in his honor, the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and styled after his favorite wines: robust and mature.

If the couple goes for the Brut Réserve Non-Vintage, guests will sample a champagne dominated by “white flowers, green apple, brioche, and a trace of minerality” on the nose.

On the palate, the notes are of stone fruits, nuttiness, and a hint of honey that supports the freshness of the acidity. The champagne can also stand up to fish and spicy dishes.

The Rich Non-Vintage, meanwhile, is sweeter than the semi-dry champagne but otherwise retains the same characteristics as the Brut Réserve.

Pol Roger received a Royal Warrant — which means it’s received the royal stamp of approval as a purveyor — from the Queen in 2004.

As Decanter notes, however, Pol Roger isn’t the traditional champagne of choice for royal weddings. When he wed Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, Prince Charles chose Bollinger for his stag party and the ceremony.

A bottle of Pol Roger Brut Réserve at Waitrose in the UK costs about £28 (€32). Pol Roger is also available in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Australia.

Source: AFPrelaxnews