Nick James dies aged 73

Nick James, the former UK managing director of Pol Roger, died on 21 January at the age of 73.

James was educated at Stowe and then the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester from which, in his words, he was “chucked out twice”.

However, he would have better luck in the drinks trade. Starting out at Saccone & Speed, while there in 1976 he would attend the Champagne Academy, a moment which he considered his “turning point”. In 2001, he would become president of the Academy Old Boys.

He would go on to work for Taittinger and Lanson and, in his time at Matthew Clark, we would work closely with the Symington family and Graham’s Port.

In 1998 he joined Pol Roger Ltd. as sales director, becoming managing director ten years later. He would be instrumental in bringing Glenfarclas into Pol Roger’s agency business, while also augmenting the company’s reputation for wine and Champagne in particular.

At a dinner held in Armourers’ Hall celebrating his retirement in March 2015, James described his 18 years at Pol Roger as the most amazing final part of my career”.

While surveying assembled guests from the likes of Charles Heidsieck, Louis Roederer, Gosset and Moët Hennessy, he remarked on the friendliness of the wine world: “What trade could have their competitors at their retirement dinner?…This is not duty-driven, you are all here because I want you here; you have enriched my life.”

That year he also received the Lifetime Achievement award at the drinks business Awards, in recognition of his 44 years in the industry.

Beyond his work, James, a keen fisherman and shooter, was a trustee of the Wye and Usk Foundation and a supporter of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

A service of thanksgiving will be held at St. Laurence’s, Ludlow on Friday 10 March at 2pm.