ROYAL KEDEM WINERY

THE ROYAL WINE COMPANY, also known as Kedem, is a Kosher food manufacturing and distribution company, incorporated in the United States for the last sixty years. It was started by the Pluczenik brothers in the 1940s and had been run by the Herzog family since 1948.

The Herzog family first operated a winery in Czechoslovakia. The winery was the exclusive wine supplier to Emperor Franz Joseph, who granted one of the early Herzog's the title of Baron. Though the wines for the emperor were not necessarily Kosher wines, all of the wines were produced under the full scrutiny of Kosher law.

During World War II, the Herzog winery was seized by the Nazis. The Herzog's, who stayed in hiding, immigrated to the United States after the 1948 Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia with only $3,000 and their wine formulas. Living in New York City, Eugene Herzog began working for the Royal Wine Company, then owned by the Pluczenik brothers, and part of his salary was paid in company shares. By 1958, he was majority stockholder and purchased the company and named it Kedem, which is Yiddish for "moving forward" or "renew our days as before."

The Royal Wine Company is the now leader in the Kosher beverage industry, and imports foods from around the world. It is especially known for the Baron Herzog Varietals line of wines. The company also retains the exclusive United States distribution rights for several Israeli wines and spirits. Kedem produces a wide variety of red and white wines, ranging from sweet to dry.

Kedem offers a 1978 barrel aged Port Wine. This vintage, produced by the revered winemaker, the late Ernest Herzog, is extremely rare and special as it was produced in 1978 and has aged in oak barrels for 27 years.