Cruse family

The Cruse Winemaking Dynasty is a well-known French Ashkenazic Jewish winemaking family originally from Denmark who has resided in Medoc and the Bordeaux regions of France since the early 19th century and is famous of its various brands of quality wines. The Cruse family today consists primarily of two cousins, Emmanuel Cruse and Annabelle Cruse Bardinet who own the Chateau D'issan and Chateau Corbin wineries, respectively.

History

The Cruse family first came to the Bordeaux region of France in the early 19th century from Copenhagen, Denmark where it had been making wine since 1814. Hermann Cruse, who bought the estate Pontet-Canetin in 1865, built new cellars, modernized the winemaking facilities, and established the wine's reputation around the world. The Cruse family owned Chateau Pontet-Canet for 110 years, until another shipper (from Cognac this time), Guy Tesseron, acquired it in 1975. The Cruse family originally held wineries in the Bordeaux region of France, and did so until the outbreak of World War II when much of the family left due to Nazi occupation and fear of being placed into concentration camps. Much of the family relocated to Great Britain and some to the United States where they settled in parts of North Carolina, a state with numerous wineries. Following the war, the Cruse family returned to Bordeaux to once again produce quality wine.

Emanuel Cruse purchased the Chateau D'issan winery in 1945 where there was much work to be done, including replanting the vineyards and re-equipping the dilapidated cellars, work which was duly undertaken; it was some time before the chateau received its long-overdue restoration. The Cruse family still owns the property today, with Eric Pellon working as general manager. The effort and expenditure they have poured into Chateau D'Issan over the ensuing decades may be paying off, as some recent vintages have produced top quality wines.

In 1999 Emmanuel Cruse II's cousin Annabelle Cruse Bardinet purchased the 15th century Chateau Corbin. Annabelle Cruse Bardinet represents the 4th generation of the famous wine making family and one of the only women to own a winery in Bordeaux.

Wine Fraud Scandal

In 1973, long-time winemaker and great grandson of Hermann Cruse, Henri Cruse, was indicted on charges of wine fraud by mixing wine from Chateau Pontet-Canet with cheaper, less significant Rioja wine. The ensuing conviction forced Cruse to sell the estate in 1975 to Cognac merchant Guy Tesseron owner of Château Lafon-Rochet. The estate remains in his control today.

External Links

• History of Chateau Pontet-Canet
• Chateau D'issan
• Chateau Corbin