Drink Like A President

The White House has been a wine house since Thomas Jefferson moved into the brand new residence in 1801. 

The President most famous for his love of the great wines of the era--Burgundy, Rhones, and Bordeaux--Jefferson enjoyed wine so much that, by the end of his life, he nearly bankrupt himself over his pursuit of expensive wines. 

He learned first hand of French and Italian wines as America’s ambassador to France (in 1785 to 1789) when he traveled extensively in France, sampling Bordeaux-- Chateau Haut Brion, Latour and Margaux--as well as Chateau d'Yquem along with Champagne, Hermitage from the Rhone and Burgundy. 

The ageworthy Haut Brion, today a classic First Growth in Graves, was among his favorites. When he became the nation’s president in 1801, he stored it, along with his other 160 cases of fine imported wines, in a wine cellar he had built under what is now the West Wing. He considered three to four glasses in the evening to be a healthy level of consumption.

As the author of the Declaration of Independence, it’s said he would often raise a glass to toast the historic document. 

Fast forward to Woodrow Wilson, president in 1913 to 1921, who presided over another turning point in American history--Prohibition. In 1919, Wilson vetoed the Volstead Act, but Congress passed it anyway. In 2019, historians found several bottles of 1922 Chateau Haut-Brion in his private home’s cellar (which are thought to have been purchased during Prohibition). Presidents just “heart” Chateau Haut-Brion.

Another Chateau Haut-Brion lover was Jack Kennedy, whose wife Jacki Kennedy was known for her love of all things French.  

Like so many other Presidential couples, the Camelot pair loved and served French Champagne marking state occasions. This

tradition, of wine sealing political deals, started in the early 1800’s when Champagnes, formerly associated with monarchs, were embraced to commemorate broader state occasions-new alliances, the French Revolution and so on.

After Prohibition ended, bringing on the bubbles became popular again. Harry Truman went for Piper Heidsieck. JFK and Jacki served French Champagnes Dom Perignon and Moet & Chandon. Jacki’s favorite was Veuve Cliquot.

President Jimmy Carter was the first to go “America First” on the wine front, serving U.S. wines at the White House. George W. Bush continued the policy. Though their politics didn’t agree, each served American brands. Napa grown Schramsburg--Blanc de Blancs and Cremant Demi-Sec--filled flutes. The Obamas continued, adding Mumm Napa and Korbel to diplomatic dinners.

With the growing popularity of Pinot Noir, Presidents from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama have found a place at the table for best bottles from American soil serving forth Archery Summit and Fiddlehead from Oregon, Goldeneye from Anderson Valley, Flowers from the Sonoma Coast, and Saintsbury from Napa’s Carneros. 

Presidential wines run deep in American history and give every new administration a chance to share the wealth of global wine selections from an ever changing kaleidoscope perspective, mingling historical Old World terroir with New World riches.

Many of those tastes and flavors live on, caught in time, in well preserved bottles.

Now you can bid on some of these famous Presidential pours. 

Here’s what’s available now on WineBid:

Bordeaux

• Château La Mission Haut Brion
• Château Haut Brion
• Château Latour
• Château Margaux
• Château d'Yquem
  

Pinot Noir

• Archery Summit
• Goldeneye  

Sparkling Wines

• Dom Perignon 
• NV Veuve Cliquot