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Now Viewing: Kedem Winery
The Royal Wine Corporation is a producer, importer and the world’s leading distributor of upscale kosher wines, liquors, spirits and grape juices. For almost 50 years, Royal has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog Family whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia. Founded in 1848, the Herzog family winery was renowned as the Royal wine supplier to the emperor of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Emperor Franz Joseph, eventually earning Phillip Herzog (1843-1918) the royal title of Baron. The winery was seized by the Nazis at the onset of World War II and placed under the control of a Czechoslovakian man designated to manage production. The Herzogs survived the war in hiding and were supported with smuggled profits from the winery. In 1948, after the Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia, Eugene Herzog, the head of the Herzog family, decided to move the family and the winery to the United States. Settling in New York City, Eugene Herzog went to work for the Royal Wine Company as a winemaker, truck driver and salesman. Part of Eugene’s salary was paid in company shares. By 1958, Eugene was a majority stockholder and he purchased the company. Eugene, with his four sons, incorporated the name Kedem, and began a quest to regain the past splendor of the Herzog family name. While the company began modestly with annual sales of a mere $120,000 and one line of traditional wines for sacramental purposes, the Herzogs set their sights on greatness and have never relented in striving toward that goal. Today the Royal Wine Corporation has earned a reputation in the kosher wine and beverage industry as the leader in modern production methods, innovative packaging and marketing. Because of family tradition, all Royal products are certified kosher and therefore prepared in adherence to the highest standards of cleanliness and purity, requiring meticulous care and pristine winemaking conditions. Made from only pure wine or grape based ingredients, Royal’s wines do not contain non-wine yeast, gelatin or animal based acidifying agents that may be used by other wineries.
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