CHAMPAGNE lovers in Alderley Edge showed their good taste when they awarded this year's champagne oscar to Pol Roger, the favourite tipple of Sir Winston Churchill.

The historic leader, one of the country's most popular heroes, favoured the champagne house and he has a vintage champagne named in his memory.

"So in a way, it helped to win the war," said Hubert de Billy, who flew in from Paris especially to collect the award at the Champagne Oscars' dinner held at the Alderley Edge Hotel.

The hotel has hosted the glittering awards ceremony for the past four years doing justice to the world's most glamorous drink by offering a sumptuous menu, which reflects the prestige of the occasion.

The champagne oscars were introduced after the village became synonomous with the drink when a poll spotlighted Alderley Edge as the country's champagne capital because residents drunk more bubbly than anywhere else in the country.

The claim led to misguided notoriety about the lifestyles of celebrities and "Champagne Charlies" in the area and a flurry of unwelcome nationwide publicity.

But hotel boss, Ahmed Kurcer and editor of Cheshire Life magazine, Patrick O Neil, got together to mark the distinction and launched the unique award.

Past winners include Moet Chandon and the celebrated Rodriguez, Crystal champagne, much loved by the Russian Tsars.

This year's winner, Pol Roger, a family owned champagne house, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, and has a reputation for producing champagnes of finesse and elegance which age well.

The most popular is the White Foil non vintage, made from equal parts of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which was Mr Churchill's favourite and enjoyed in his finest hours.

The company produced the vintage Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill in 1984 as a tribute to the remarkable leader and it is now acclaimed for its excellence as a champage of exquisite finesse and balance and one that rivals the very best of the region.