In the 18th century, in the Jewish quarter of Frankfurt, Germany, it was customary to put symbolic signs on the exterior of houses. At that time, there were no official address numbers, so these signs served to identify and easily locate residents. One of these was a house with a picture of a 'red shield.' This was the home of the ancestor of the Rothschild family. Rothschild means 'red shield' in German.
In 1822, the Rothschild family was awarded the title of Baron by the Austrian emperor, incorporating the red shield into the family's official coat of arms. In the center, five arrows were depicted together, symbolizing Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who founded the family, and his five sons. The red shield and the five arrows subsequently became symbols representing the family's identity across finance, arts, and wine.
The financial conglomerate Rothschild family began to write its history as a prestigious wine family from the 19th century. They ventured into the wine business by acquiring vineyards in the Bordeaux region of France. During this time, they acquired Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Lafite Rothschild, which are among the five first-growth estates in Bordeaux today. The surname Rothschild is pronounced 'Rothschild' in French.
In 1922, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who took over the management of Château Mouton Rothschild at the age of 20, revamped the château that was incurring operational losses. He led a revolutionary change in Bordeaux at the time. He started the tradition of using artists' works on wine labels and introduced the 'château bottling' system, allowing wine to be bottled directly at the château without going through négociants. In 1933, he established the 'Baron Philippe de Rothschild' winery, expanding into both château wine and brand wine operations. He also partnered with legendary American winemaker Robert Mondavi to create the global cult wine 'Opus One.'
His daughter, Philippine de Rothschild, joined the family's wine business in 1988. In 1997, she launched 'Almaviva' in collaboration with Chile's Concha y Toro and established 'Baron Philippe de Rothschild Maipo Chile,' a subsidiary of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, in Chile the same year. She introduced the brand 'Escudo Rojo,' applying the family's winemaking expertise to Chile's grape-growing environment. This means 'red shield' in Spanish, capturing the essence of the Rothschild family's symbol, identity, and cultural heritage.
At the pinnacle of the Escudo Rojo brand is the wine 'Baronesa P.' It was created by Philippe Sere de Rothschild's daughter to honor her mother's achievements. 'Baronesa' means 'woman baron' in Spanish, and 'P' is derived from Philippine's name.
"This wine is not just a tribute; it is a legacy. It was born from the Chilean natural environment, our family's expertise, and a charismatic personality. To describe Baronesa P in three words: stringent standards, elegance, and flamboyance."ㅡ Philippe Sere de Rothschild
The grapes used for Baronesa P are harvested from vines planted 20 to 30 years ago. Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1997, Carmenere and Petit Verdot in 1998, Cabernet Franc in 2003, and Shiraz in 2009. The blending ratios vary slightly with each vintage, but for the 2021 vintage, it consisted of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Carmenere, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Shiraz.
The winemaking process begins in small stainless steel tanks. During fermentation, a 'pumping over' operation is conducted up to three times a day, lifting the grape juice from the bottom of the tank to saturate the grape skins evenly. The fermentation completes after a maceration period of 20 to 25 days, maintaining a fermentation temperature of 25 to 27 degrees Celsius. Following this, malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels for 14 months. The wine is aged in 100% French oak barrels for 16 months, 52% of which are new oak and 48% are used once.
The finished wine exhibits a deep ruby red color with a purple hue, starting with aromas of blackcurrant and black cherry, followed by hints of graphite and cigar box. The intense yet refreshing scent is marked by a complex blend of fresh spices, toasted almonds, vanilla, and sandalwood. On the palate, there is a harmonious balance of elegant structure and smooth texture, leaving a lingering impression of natural freshness and distinct mineral flavors. Hints of roasted hazelnut complement the wild blackberry notes to add depth.
Baronesa P received a score of 96 from James Suckling and won the award for the 'New World Red Wine' institutional sector at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. In Korea, it is imported and distributed by Ayoung FBC.