Nearly Forty Years of Kosher Rothschild Wine: A Legacy of Excellence

The story of kosher wine took a transformative turn thirty-nine years ago when two iconic Jewish families - the Herzogs and the Rothschilds - joined forces to produce high-quality kosher Bordeaux. This partnership not only elevated the standards of kosher wine but also helped shape its global reputation.

In the mid-1980s, kosher wine was still in its early stages of development. While there were promising efforts in California, Italy, and Israel, the market lacked consistent access to premium
kosher Bordeaux. That changed in 1986 when Pierre Miodownick, a pioneering kosher winemaker in France, approached Baron Edmond de Rothschild with a bold proposal: to produce
a kosher cuvée at Château Clarke, a Rothschild estate in the Listrac commune of Bordeaux.

Baron Edmond, whose family legacy included deep ties to Israel and the wine industry, embraced the idea. His grandfather, the original Baron Edmond - known in Israel as
HaNadiv - was the founder of Israel’s modern wine industry. Inspired by this heritage, the Baron had purchased and rebuilt Château Clarke in the 1970s, laying the groundwork for a new chapter in kosher winemaking.

To bring the wine to market, Miodownick partnered with Royal Wine Corp., led by the Herzog family. The collaboration quickly evolved into a lasting friendship and business alliance. In 1988, Royal Wine acquired Miodownick’s company, and he became their chief European winemaker.

The first kosher wine from this partnership, the inaugural 1986 Barons Edmond et Benjamin de Rothschild Haut-Médoc, was released in 1988. It marked a turning point—not only for kosher
Bordeaux, but for the entire kosher wine industry. Over the years, the portfolio expanded to include wines from Château Malmaison, Château des Laurets, Bodega Flechas de los Andes in
Argentina, and even a kosher Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir from Rimapere in New Zealand. This enduring partnership has been guided by shared values: a commitment to excellence, a
respect for heritage, and a passion for innovation. The Rothschilds brought their centuries-old winemaking expertise, while the Herzogs contributed their deep understanding of the kosher
market and global distribution.

Today, the collaboration continues to thrive under the leadership of Baroness Ariane de Rothschild and the Herzog family. The kosher Château Clarke stands as a testament to how far
the partnership has come—an exceptional wine that reflects decades of dedication and vision. As the kosher wine world continues to evolve, the Herzog–Rothschild alliance remains a
cornerstone of quality and tradition. The past thirty years have laid a remarkable foundation, and the future promises even greater achievements.