History in a Bottle

The PalestineWine Company,founded in 1898, started marketing wines with the name Palwin,which was the first brand sold in export markets by the Israeli wine industry

by: Adam Montefiore

The first wine I ever bought to drink was a liter bottle of something called Hirondelle. This was then a big-selling brand that made me think consciously for the first time that I quite liked the fruit of the vine in a bottle. The first wine that actually turned my head and opened a door in my mind was a Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1971. I remember the color, concentration and first whiff until today. I suppose this is what helped mt seduce me into a career in wine.

To the question "What was the first wine you ever drank?" I guarantee that almost every British-born Jewish boy would give the same answer. The first wine would invariably be Palwin. My first sip, along with everyone else's, was probably at my brit mila (circumcision). Thankfully, I don't remember it because it was a long time ago and the wine-soaked gauze I was given to suck on was enough to dull my memory.

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Published By: The Jerusalem Post