82 years later, a 1944 graffiti inscription reveals its story at Champagne Gosset.

On 5 October 2026, Maison Gosset welcomed Richard Jurczak and Susan Carlson, who came with their families to discover the graffiti left by their father, Frank Stanley Jurczak, in the House’s cellars on 16 December 1944.

At the time, Frank Jurczak was 20 years old and serving in the U.S. Army. He had carved into the chalk: “F. JURCZAK, CONN., USA, DEC 16, 1944.” For decades, this name remained a mystery among the many historical traces preserved throughout the House’s 1.7 kilometres of cellars.

From 2021 onwards, as part of a research project dedicated to the history of the Épernay estate and its graffiti, several leads were explored, without success. The investigation finally took a decisive turn in 2023, during a visit by a group of Americans from New Orleans. Thanks to a series of encounters, notably with Jane Cooper, Bob Heaps and Brian Ace, new research was launched in the United States. A few months later, Frank Jurczak’s son was finally located.

This story came full circle on 5 October with the visit of his children and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, now installed near the graffiti to preserve its memory, with a special thought for their brother Frank Junior, who passed away far too soon.

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