Chateau Mouton Rothschild: A favorite of the World's Most Well-Heeled Oenophiles

For a century and a half, Chateau Mouton Rothschild has been producing wine for the world's most well-heeled oenophiles – reason enough to earn the estate a Luxist nomination in the best international red wine category.

In 1850, European banking magnate Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild was looking for an impressive way to entertain high-profile guests. What could be better, he wondered, than serving them his own wine? In 1853, he purchased the Chateau Brane Mouton in Pauillac and rechristened it Chateau Mouton Rothschild; the estate was included among the fifteen estates are listed as Deuxiemes Crus in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

After Baron Nathaniel's death in 1970, his sons showed little interest in wine, but grandson Philippe eventually filled the void, taking the estate's reins in 1922. For over half a century, he led the estate to new heights, culminating in the unprecedented decision of the French ministry of agriculture to promote Chateau Mouton Rothschild to Premier Cru status.

Today his daughter, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, continues as chairman of the family business. She has overseen a number of new developments in recent years, including a partnership with a Chilean company to produce the wine Almaviva in 1997, as well as the launch of the Languedoc wine Domaine de Baron'Arques in 2005.

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