Bordeaux Wine

In the vast world of wine, Bordeaux, France is arguably one of the best wine producing regions.

Bordeaux wine was popularized in 1152 A.D when Henry II of England married Elanor of Aquitaine who happened to own Bordeaux. For 300 years, Bordeaux wines were shipped to England via the Girdonde Estuary and quickly became popular. After the hundred years war, France regained control of Bordeaux and resumed producing top-quality wine. However, with this new found popularity, the demand for Bordeaux wine grew and eventually word spread that it was the wine capital of France.

In 1855, France held the ‘Exposition Universelle’, an International Exhibition held on the Champs-Élysées. For the exhibition, Napoleon III, the emperor at the time, requested all the premium wines from the Bordeaux region of France to be classified for all the visitors to see in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. Based on a ‘château's’ or winery’s reputation and trading price, brokers from the wine industry categorized the wines into 5 ‘cru’ or growths. The categories were in descending order from the first growth or ‘premier cru’ being the highest quality to the fifth cru being the lesser quality. Currently, three of the five premier cru wineries are located in the Pauillac region: Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. Surprisingly, at one point in history all three chateaus were owned by the same family. However, The Chateau Mouton-Rothschild holds the richest history, going through radical changes and hardships.

The earliest known ancestor of the Rothschild family started with the birth of Amshel Meyer in 1744. He went on to become a merchant at ‘zum Roten Schild’ which would become his official family name: Rothschild. His sons graduated to different places around the world in 1798. In the family archives, the start of the famous Chateau Mouton-Rothschild came in 1853: Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild bought Chateau Brane-Mouton at auction so he could serve wine to his prestigious guests. As it was formal for the land to bear the name of the buyer, Baron Nathaniel named his newly bought land, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild.

In the 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was given the second growth classification. This is the second highest classification for Chateaus in Bordeaux.

In 1922, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Baron Nathaniel’s great-grandson took over as owner. After two years of familiarizing and educating himself on the Bordeaux style of wine, Philippe revolutionized the bottling process. Before, the wine would be transported in barrels to the receiver who would then bottle the wine him or herself. Philippe insisted to bottle the wine in the chateau therefore having control of the wine through the entire process, from grape to bottle. Due to his decision, the chateau needed more space for bottling. Designed by architect Charles Siclis, an elegant 100 meter-long, 25 meter-wide hall was built in 1962. Named the Grand Chai, It can accommodate 1000 oak casks on a single level with bold and beautiful architecture. In that same year, Baron Philippe asked Jean Carlu, a famous French graphic designer, to design a label for the Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine bottles of that year. This was practice was never heard of and ahead of its time.

In 1933, Baron Philippe acquires a small wine-trading company business in Pauillac, now known as Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA. The company goes on to produce and market many wines, including Mouton Cadet which is now the world’s leading Bordeaux AOC brand.

Due to their top-quality wine and deep and rich history, the Minister of Cultural Affairs at the time, inaugurates the Museum of Art in Wine in Philippe’s chateau in 1962. This was conceptualised by Baron Philippe and his second wife, Baroness Pauline. Located alongside the Grand Chai it now contains a collection of precious objects from all ages associated with wine.

1973 was the historic year Baron Philippe was waiting for. Although given second cru in the 1855 Classification, Philippe knew his chateau produced first cru quality wine and fought for the classification. In 1973,